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Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Only+Sask+plan+H1N1+vaccination/2114349/story.html
Only 36% in Sask. plan to get H1N1 vaccination
By Lana Haight, The StarPhoenixOctober 17, 2009 8:16 AM
More than half of the people living in Saskatchewan are concerned they or someone else in their home will become sick with the H1N1 virus, but only one-third plan to be immunized, according to a new survey.
"It's that young group, the 18- to 34-year-olds, that are most likely to say they are not getting an (H1N1) flu shot. It's the 'I'm young, I'm invincible' attitude that they have," said Lang McGilp, manager of research services for Insightrix Research Inc.
Of the 796 Saskatchewan residents who responded to an online poll, 287 (36 per cent) said they plan to get the H1N1 vaccination, 329 (41 per cent) said they don't plan to and 181 (23 per cent) said they didn't know if they would be getting immunized.
People in Saskatchewan feel very informed about the issues surrounding H1N1, according to the poll.
About 95 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about ways to prevent catching H1N1, and 84 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about the symptoms. About 80 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about the risks associated with contracting H1N1.
"We didn't go to the level of depth to test people's knowledge level," said McGilp.
"There's likely an element of inflation there in terms of who says that they are informed versus if we actually tested them on their answers. Not all of them would probably get them all correct."
Not only did nearly 83 per cent of those surveyed report they believed it was within their control to reduce the chances of getting sick with H1N1, many also said they have changed their behaviour to reduce their exposure to the virus. More than 83 per cent said they were washing their hands more often, 69 per cent of those with kids in their home said they are either washing their kids' hands more often or telling their kids to do so and more than 17 per cent said they are drinking hot liquids and/or gargling with salt water or antiseptic more often than they normally would.
Of the women surveyed, 43 per cent said they will stay home from work if they are sick this winter, compared to 31 per cent of men who plan to stay home.
"The likelihood of avoiding the workplace if ill is lowest among households earning less than $30,000 in annual income (29.1 per cent), and the likelihood of staying home if sick increases sharply with household income (to a high of 53.1 per cent of those with household incomes of more than $120,000)," said the report prepared by Insightrix.
The Saskatoon-based research firm has developed an online market research panel that includes more than 6,000 Saskatchewan residents.
The firm randomly selects from this panel those who participate in online surveys.
lhaight@sp.canwest.com
LHaight 10/16/09 survey results graphic to go with this
HOW INFORMED DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WAYS TO PREVENT CATCHING H1N1?
- not at all informed 0% (2)
- not very informed 5% (40)
- somewhat informed 50% (396)
- very informed 45% (357)
HOW INFORMED DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE H1N1 VIRUS?
- not at all informed 2% (12)
- not very informed 14% (114)
- somewhat informed 51% (406)
- very informed 33% (264)
Source: Insightrix Research Inc.
Only 36% in Sask. plan to get H1N1 vaccination
By Lana Haight, The StarPhoenixOctober 17, 2009 8:16 AM
More than half of the people living in Saskatchewan are concerned they or someone else in their home will become sick with the H1N1 virus, but only one-third plan to be immunized, according to a new survey.
"It's that young group, the 18- to 34-year-olds, that are most likely to say they are not getting an (H1N1) flu shot. It's the 'I'm young, I'm invincible' attitude that they have," said Lang McGilp, manager of research services for Insightrix Research Inc.
Of the 796 Saskatchewan residents who responded to an online poll, 287 (36 per cent) said they plan to get the H1N1 vaccination, 329 (41 per cent) said they don't plan to and 181 (23 per cent) said they didn't know if they would be getting immunized.
People in Saskatchewan feel very informed about the issues surrounding H1N1, according to the poll.
About 95 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about ways to prevent catching H1N1, and 84 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about the symptoms. About 80 per cent said they felt somewhat or very informed about the risks associated with contracting H1N1.
"We didn't go to the level of depth to test people's knowledge level," said McGilp.
"There's likely an element of inflation there in terms of who says that they are informed versus if we actually tested them on their answers. Not all of them would probably get them all correct."
Not only did nearly 83 per cent of those surveyed report they believed it was within their control to reduce the chances of getting sick with H1N1, many also said they have changed their behaviour to reduce their exposure to the virus. More than 83 per cent said they were washing their hands more often, 69 per cent of those with kids in their home said they are either washing their kids' hands more often or telling their kids to do so and more than 17 per cent said they are drinking hot liquids and/or gargling with salt water or antiseptic more often than they normally would.
Of the women surveyed, 43 per cent said they will stay home from work if they are sick this winter, compared to 31 per cent of men who plan to stay home.
"The likelihood of avoiding the workplace if ill is lowest among households earning less than $30,000 in annual income (29.1 per cent), and the likelihood of staying home if sick increases sharply with household income (to a high of 53.1 per cent of those with household incomes of more than $120,000)," said the report prepared by Insightrix.
The Saskatoon-based research firm has developed an online market research panel that includes more than 6,000 Saskatchewan residents.
The firm randomly selects from this panel those who participate in online surveys.
lhaight@sp.canwest.com
LHaight 10/16/09 survey results graphic to go with this
HOW INFORMED DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WAYS TO PREVENT CATCHING H1N1?
- not at all informed 0% (2)
- not very informed 5% (40)
- somewhat informed 50% (396)
- very informed 45% (357)
HOW INFORMED DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE H1N1 VIRUS?
- not at all informed 2% (12)
- not very informed 14% (114)
- somewhat informed 51% (406)
- very informed 33% (264)
Source: Insightrix Research Inc.