Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses

Globally, governments and health authorities are preparing for pandemic influenza and producing resources to promote preparedness planning; however, there is little information available to inform the design of strategies to promote preparedness. Three focus groups were conducted to identify and to...

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Main Authors: Watkins, Rochelle, Cooke, Feonagh, Donovan, Robert, MacIntyre, C., Itzwerth, R., Plant, Aileen
Format: Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications 2008
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32119
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author Watkins, Rochelle
Cooke, Feonagh
Donovan, Robert
MacIntyre, C.
Itzwerth, R.
Plant, Aileen
author_facet Watkins, Rochelle
Cooke, Feonagh
Donovan, Robert
MacIntyre, C.
Itzwerth, R.
Plant, Aileen
author_sort Watkins, Rochelle
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Globally, governments and health authorities are preparing for pandemic influenza and producing resources to promote preparedness planning; however, there is little information available to inform the design of strategies to promote preparedness. Three focus groups were conducted to identify and to describe beliefs and perceptions about pandemic influenza and response planning among small and medium business owners and managers. Most participants were not concerned about the risk of pandemic influenza, and none had engaged in any planning for a pandemic. Findings show that participants were uncertain of the modes of transmission of pandemic influenza and what precautions could be taken prior to, or in the event of, a pandemic. Among the most important findings was participants' perceived inability to effectively prevent or control the spread of influenza within their workplace. These findings have important implications for the design of communication strategies to promote preparedness.
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publishDate 2008
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-321192017-09-13T15:16:05Z Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses Watkins, Rochelle Cooke, Feonagh Donovan, Robert MacIntyre, C. Itzwerth, R. Plant, Aileen Globally, governments and health authorities are preparing for pandemic influenza and producing resources to promote preparedness planning; however, there is little information available to inform the design of strategies to promote preparedness. Three focus groups were conducted to identify and to describe beliefs and perceptions about pandemic influenza and response planning among small and medium business owners and managers. Most participants were not concerned about the risk of pandemic influenza, and none had engaged in any planning for a pandemic. Findings show that participants were uncertain of the modes of transmission of pandemic influenza and what precautions could be taken prior to, or in the event of, a pandemic. Among the most important findings was participants' perceived inability to effectively prevent or control the spread of influenza within their workplace. These findings have important implications for the design of communication strategies to promote preparedness. 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32119 10.1177/1049732308318032 Sage Publications restricted
spellingShingle Watkins, Rochelle
Cooke, Feonagh
Donovan, Robert
MacIntyre, C.
Itzwerth, R.
Plant, Aileen
Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title_full Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title_fullStr Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title_full_unstemmed Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title_short Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
title_sort tackle the problem when it gets here: pandemic preparedness among small and medium businesses
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32119