Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1 (interne 13), 3720, BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Department of Statistics, Informatics and Mathematical Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Jan 8;18(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2906-7.
The Ebola outbreak in West-Africa triggered risk communication activities to promote adequate preventive behaviour in the Netherlands. Our study investigated the level of knowledge, perceptions, and media use regarding Ebola.
In December 2014, an online questionnaire was administered to the Dutch population (n = 526) and Health Care Workers (HCW) (n = 760).
The mean knowledge score (range 0-15) of HCW (m = 13.3;SD = 1.4) was significantly higher than the general public (m = 10.8;SD = 2.0). No significant difference was found in perceived severity and susceptibility. Perceived fear of the general public (m = 2.5; SD = 0.8) was significantly higher than among HCW (m = 2.4; SD = 0.7). Respondents primarily used television to obtain information.
While Ebola was perceived severe, it did not lead to excessive fear or perceived susceptibility for developing the disease. Nonetheless, our research showed that knowledge with respect to human-to-human transmission is low, while this is crucial to complying with preventive measures. Our study reveals priorities for improving risk communication.
西非的埃博拉疫情引发了风险沟通活动，以促进荷兰采取适当的预防行为。我们的研究调查了有关埃博拉的知识、认知和媒体使用水平。
2014 年 12 月，向荷兰民众（n=526）和卫生保健工作者（HCW）（n=760）在线发放问卷。
HCW 的平均知识得分（范围 0-15）为 13.3（SD=1.4），明显高于普通民众（10.8；SD=2.0）。在感知严重程度和易感性方面没有显著差异。公众对埃博拉的恐惧感知（m=2.5；SD=0.8）明显高于 HCW（m=2.4；SD=0.7）。受访者主要通过电视获取信息。
虽然埃博拉被认为很严重，但并没有导致过度的恐惧或对患病的易感性。然而，我们的研究表明，人际传播方面的知识水平较低，而这对于遵守预防措施至关重要。我们的研究揭示了改善风险沟通的优先事项。
