HINES, IL — Receiving appropriate amounts of information from valid sources may affect adherence to infection control recommendations during pandemics, according to researchers from the Center for Management of Complex Chronic Care, Hines, IL, VAMC.

In a report published in the Journal of Community Health, authors suggest their results can be used to facilitate efforts ensuring information is received by high-risk populations. Their study examined amount and sources of H1N1-related information in a group of veterans with spinal-cord injuries and disorders who are at high risk for respiratory complications.¹

In 2010, researchers mailed a cross-sectional survey to those veterans, then used bivariate comparisons to assess adequate H1N1-realted information vs. not enough and too much.

Using multi-variate regression, variables associated with receipt of adequate information were identified.

They found that a greater proportion of veterans who received adequate vs. not enough information received H1N1 vaccination (61.87 vs. 48.49 %, p < 0.0001). Also, a greater proportion who received adequate vs. too much information received seasonal vaccination (84.90 vs. 71.02 %, p < 0.0001) and H1N1 vaccination (61.87 vs. 42.45 %, p < 0.0001).

The study noted that variables associated with greater odds of receiving adequate information included being white, a college graduate and having VA health professionals as their primary information source.

Those who received adequate information had lower odds of staying home with influenza or flulike symptoms and higher odds of receiving H1N1 vaccines and wearing facemasks.

1. Etingen B, Lavela SL, Miskevics S, Goldstein B. Health Information During the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic: Did the Amount Received Influence Infection Prevention Behaviors? J Community Health. 2012 Dec 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23269499.