Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Epidemiology Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
BMC Public Health. 2018 Apr 2;18(1):436. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5340-x.
Singapore remains vulnerable to worldwide epidemics due to high air traffic with other countries This study aims to measure the public's awareness of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Avian Influenza A (H7N9), identify population groups who are uninformed or misinformed about the diseases, understand their choice of outbreak information source, and assess the effectiveness of communication channels in Singapore.
A cross-sectional study, comprising of face-to-face interviews, was conducted between June and December 2013 to assess the public's awareness and knowledge of MERS and H7N9, including their choice of information source. Respondents were randomly selected and recruited from 3 existing cohort studies. An opportunistic sampling approach was also used to recruit new participants or members in the same household through referrals from existing participants.
Out of 2969 participants, 53.2% and 79.4% were not aware of H7N9 and MERS respectively. Participants who were older and better educated were most likely to hear about the diseases. The mean total knowledge score was 9.2 (S.D ± 2.3) out of 20, and 5.9 (S.D ± 1.2) out of 10 for H7N9 and MERS respectively. Participants who were Chinese, more educated and older had better knowledge of the diseases. Television and radio were the primary sources of outbreak information regardless of socio-demographic factors.
Heightening education of infectious outbreaks through appropriate media to the young and less educated could increase awareness.
由于与其他国家的高空中交通量，新加坡仍容易受到世界范围内的传染病的影响。本研究旨在衡量公众对中东呼吸综合征（MERS）和禽流感 A（H7N9）的认识，确定对这些疾病不了解或信息有误的人群，了解他们选择的疫情信息来源，并评估新加坡沟通渠道的有效性。
2013 年 6 月至 12 月期间进行了一项横断面研究，包括面对面访谈，以评估公众对 MERS 和 H7N9 的认识和知识，包括他们选择信息来源的情况。受访者是从 3 项现有队列研究中随机选择和招募的。还通过现有参与者的转介，采用机会抽样方法从同一家庭中招募新参与者或成员。
在 2969 名参与者中，分别有 53.2%和 79.4%的人不知道 H7N9 和 MERS。年龄较大和受教育程度较高的参与者更有可能听说过这些疾病。H7N9 和 MERS 的平均总知识得分分别为 20 分中的 9.2（S.D ± 2.3）和 10 分中的 5.9（S.D ± 1.2）。中国人、受教育程度较高和年龄较大的参与者对这些疾病的了解更好。无论社会人口因素如何，电视和广播都是疫情信息的主要来源。
通过适当的媒体向年轻人和受教育程度较低的人加强传染病暴发的教育，可以提高认识。
