Canadian national surveys on pandemic influenza preparations: pre-pandemic and peri-pandemic findings

BMC Public Health

Ross EG Upshur¹  Cecile M Bensimon⁶  C Shawn Tracy⁴  Crissa L Guglietti²  Jennifer L Gibson⁵  Kumanan Wilson³  Daniel F Perez²  Paul Ritvo⁶ 

[1]Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 263 McCaul Street, Toronto, M5T 1W7, Canada

[2]School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, M3J 1P3, Canada

[3]Department of Medicine, Ottawa Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, 725 Parkdale Ave, Ottawa, K1Y 4E9, Canada

[4]Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, M4N 3M5, Canada

[5]Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1P8, Canada

[6]University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, 55 College, Street, Suite 754, Toronto, M5T 1P8, Canada

关键词: H1N1;    Bioethics;    Public health ethics;    Survey research;    Canada;    Pandemic influenza;   

Others  :  1162409
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-271

 received in 2012-07-23, accepted in 2013-02-28,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Prior to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza pandemic, public health authorities in Canada and elsewhere prepared for the future outbreak, partly guided by an ethical framework developed within the Canadian Program of Research on Ethics in a Pandemic (CanPREP). We developed a telephone-based survey based on that framework, which was delivered across Canada in late 2008. In June, 2009, the WHO declared pandemic Phase 6 status and from the subsequent October (2009) until May 2010, the CanPREP team fielded a second (revised) survey, collecting another 1,000 opinions from Canadians during a period of pre-pandemic anticipation and peri-pandemic experience.

Methods

Surveys were administered by telephone with random sampling achieved via random digit dialing. Eligible participants were adults, 18 years or older, with per province stratification approximating provincial percentages of national population. Descriptive results were tabulated and logistic regression analyses used to assess whether demographic factors were significantly associated with outcomes, and to identify divergences (between the pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic surveys).

Results

N = 1,029 interviews were completed from 1,986 households, yielding a gross response rate of 52% (AAPOR Standard Definition 3). Over 90% of subjects indicated the most important goal of pandemic influenza preparations was saving lives, with 41% indicating that saving lives solely in Canada was the highest priority and 50% indicating saving lives globally was the highest priority. About 90% of respondents supported the obligation of health care workers to report to work and face influenza pandemic risks excepting those with serious health conditions which that increased risks. Strong majorities favoured stocking adequate protective antiviral dosages for all Canadians (92%) and, if effective, influenza vaccinations (95%). Over 70% agreed Canada should provide international assistance to poorer countries for pandemic preparation, even if resources for Canadians were reduced.

Conclusions

Results suggest Canadians trust public health officials to make difficult decisions, providing emphasis is maintained on reciprocity and respect for individual rights. Canadians also support international obligations to help poorer countries and associated efforts to save lives outside the country, even if intra-national efforts are reduced.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Ritvo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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