TY - JOUR
T1 - Nothing to sneeze at – uptake of protective measures against an influenza pandemic by people with schizophrenia
T2 - willingness and perceived barriers
AU - Maguire, Paul A.
AU - Reay, Rebecca E.
AU - Looi, Jeffrey C.L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2018.
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Objectives: To examine willingness to adopt protective behaviours, and perceived barriers, during a pandemic influenza, in people with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted exploring the responses of 71 adults with schizophrenia and 238 adults without schizophrenia attending a general practice setting, regarding willingness and perceived barriers to adopting protective measures against the 2009 swine influenza pandemic in Australia. Results: The majority of participants with schizophrenia reported that they would be at least moderately willing to be vaccinated (74.2%), isolate themselves (73.2%), wear a face mask (54.9%) and increase hand washing (88.6%). However, 71.8% were concerned about “catching” flu from vaccination. Predictors of willingness to adopt protective actions included self-efficacy (vaccination, face mask, isolation), perceived likelihood of contracting swine flu (vaccination), educational status (face mask) and perceived overall risk from swine flu (face mask). Key modifiable perceived barriers to adopting protective measures were identified, including cost and need for transport assistance for vaccination. Conclusions: People with schizophrenia report being generally willing to adopt protective measures, especially increased hand washing, during a pandemic influenza. Understanding perceived barriers may enable development of effective interventions to increase uptake of protective measures.
AB - Objectives: To examine willingness to adopt protective behaviours, and perceived barriers, during a pandemic influenza, in people with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted exploring the responses of 71 adults with schizophrenia and 238 adults without schizophrenia attending a general practice setting, regarding willingness and perceived barriers to adopting protective measures against the 2009 swine influenza pandemic in Australia. Results: The majority of participants with schizophrenia reported that they would be at least moderately willing to be vaccinated (74.2%), isolate themselves (73.2%), wear a face mask (54.9%) and increase hand washing (88.6%). However, 71.8% were concerned about “catching” flu from vaccination. Predictors of willingness to adopt protective actions included self-efficacy (vaccination, face mask, isolation), perceived likelihood of contracting swine flu (vaccination), educational status (face mask) and perceived overall risk from swine flu (face mask). Key modifiable perceived barriers to adopting protective measures were identified, including cost and need for transport assistance for vaccination. Conclusions: People with schizophrenia report being generally willing to adopt protective measures, especially increased hand washing, during a pandemic influenza. Understanding perceived barriers may enable development of effective interventions to increase uptake of protective measures.
KW - pandemic influenza
KW - perceived barriers
KW - protective measures
KW - schizophrenia
KW - willingness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85059687979&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1039856218815748
DO - 10.1177/1039856218815748
M3 - Article
SN - 1039-8562
VL - 27
SP - 171
EP - 178
JO - Australasian Psychiatry
JF - Australasian Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -