Press Releases
More than One-Third of Docs Say Risk Level Rising for Potential H1N1 Flu Pandemic
Physicians report highest risk level for H1N1 pandemic since April
Flemington, NJ, June 30, 2009 – A new national study among 696 physicians revealed that more than one-third of physicians (37%) reported that there was “somewhat of a risk” that the H1N1 swine flu could result in a catastrophic pandemic, the highest level since an April study in which 49% of physicians reported that there was “somewhat of a risk” for a pandemic.
The study was conducted last night by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website, and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO), as part of a series of studies which were conducted during April, May and June to obtain physicians’ perceptions of the H1N1 virus. The studies are being conducted on a weekly basis to measure physicians’ perceptions regarding their personal and professional views on the issue.
When asked what top three sources they use to obtain information on H1N1 swine flu, physicians listed government agency communications (77%) as their top choice, followed by the news media (71%) and medical associations (55%), similar to previous studies.
Among the findings:
Please indicate the level of risk that the H1N1 swine flu could result in a catastrophic pandemic. Use a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 indicating "No Risk" and 7 indicating "Extremely High Risk."
|
|
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
Week 5 |
|
1 - No Risk |
1% |
2% |
3% |
2% |
3% |
|
2 - Low Risk |
13% |
27% |
26% |
33% |
25% |
|
Bottom 2 |
14% |
30% |
29% |
35% |
28% |
|
3 - Somewhat Low Risk |
14% |
18% |
17% |
16% |
16% |
|
4 - Neither At Risk or Not At Risk |
9% |
12% |
14% |
14% |
12% |
|
5 - Somewhat |
49% |
31% |
33% |
29% |
37% |
|
Top 2 |
14% |
9% |
8% |
6% |
7% |
|
6 - High Risk |
12% |
7% |
7% |
6% |
6% |
|
7 - Extremely High Risk |
2% |
1% |
1% |
0% |
1% |
|
MEAN |
4.4 (Neither) |
3.7 (Neither) |
3.7 (Neutral) |
3.5 (Neutral) |
3.8 (Neutral) |
Please indicate the top 3 sources that you use to find out about H1N1 swine flu.
Check exactly three.
|
|
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
Week 5 |
|
News (including print, broadcast, and internet) |
75% |
73% |
69% |
71% |
|
Symposium/Conferences/Med education programs |
27% |
11% |
13% |
13% |
|
Sales reps |
1% |
2% |
2% |
4% |
|
Colleagues/KOL |
28% |
26% |
27% |
24% |
|
Product brochures/promotion material/web site |
3% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
|
Medical journal/journal web site |
38% |
42% |
49% |
51% |
|
Medical association communication/web site |
60% |
60% |
55% |
55% |
|
Government agency communication/news letters (e.g. CDC, FDA) |
81% |
79% |
77% |
77% |
Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research or Chris Borick, Ph.D., director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820
About MediaCurves.com
MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements. MediaCurves.com is a service of HCD Research, a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.