世論 What Japan Thinks

With swine flu doing the rounds of many countries including Japan, here’s an indepth look by MyVoice at swine flu.

Demographics

Over the first five days of November 13,813 members of the MyVoice internet community completed a private online questionnaire. 54% of the sample were female, 1% in their teens, 12% in their twenties, 34% in their thirties, 31% in their forties, and 22% aged fifty or older.

When the pandemic first appeared, the press completely overblew the whole affair, but now it seems quite the opposite, with very little information being available on even the basic information such as the number of new cases per week. Also, there is no public service advertising (that I have seen) on television giving tips on how to cover a cough or what measures one should take to prepare for a serious epidemic.

I’ll probably not bother with a vaccination, not out of worries about the vaccine itself, but just that by the time it gets round to me I’ll probably either have had it or the epidemic will have blown itself out.

Research results

Q1: How worried are you about swine flu? (Sample size=13,813)

Very worried	20.2%
Somewhat worried	48.2%
Can’t say either way	13.1%
Not really worried	15.1%
Not worried at all	3.4%

Q2: What things do you feel about the current epidemic of swine flu? (Sample size=13,813, multiple answer)

If one properly takes preventative measures the chance of catching it decreases to some extent	41.9%
The press have over-reacted and stirred up unease	34.8%
Worried that if I get it I’ll give it to friends and family	34.7%
Worried that it may become more serious	33.1%
Worried that it may become difficult to lead my normal life, work, study, etc	26.5%
Not really that worried as it seems weak and responds to Tamiflu, other treatment	23.4%
Worried that I won’t be able to get vaccinated	17.2%
Worried that if I, my family get it, people around me will criticise me	12.4%
Don’t know what sort of preventative measures to take	8.2%
None of the above	5.3%
No answer	0.1%

Q3: From where do you obtain information about swine flu? (Sample size=13,813, multiple answer)

Television	82.7%
Newspaper articles	53.4%
Friends	18.3%
Family, relatives	17.3%
Workplace	16.4%
National, local government, other specialised web sites	13.5%
Other web sites	11.7%
Medical facilities	9.7%
Medical facilities’ web sites	8.6%
School	8.1%
Radio	7.3%
Information newsletters	5.7%
National, local government facilities	5.0%
Newspaper advertisements	3.4%
Magazines	3.3%
Email newsletters	2.5%
Free newspapers	1.3%
Books	1.1%
Other	1.6%
Nowhere in particular	4.7%
No answer	0.1%

Q4: Which of the following swine flu-related items have you or your family bought? (Sample size=13,813, multiple answer)

Surgical marks	40.7%
Hand soap	28.8%
Antiseptic solution	19.8%
Gargle	19.1%
Non surgical, N95 mask	18.6%
N95 mask	6.7%
Disposable gloves	4.2%
Drinking water	4.2%
Emergency food	3.6%
Anti-bacterial spray	3.1%
Medicines, ice pillows, other fever-related medical goods	2.5%
Emergency anti-pandemic kit set	2.2%
Toilet paper, bottled-gas cooker, other daily items	1.9%
Bleach	1.6%
Air purifier with influenza-trapping filter	1.2%
Rubbish bin with lid, rubbish bags	0.4%
Protective suit, shoe covers, googles, etc	0.3%
Non-contact thermometer, disposable thermometer	0.2%
Other	0.9%
Nothing at all	30.2%
No answer	0.3%

Q5: Why haven’t you bought any swine flu-related items? (Sample size=swine flu item non-purchasers, multiple answer)

Should be able to cope even with no particular preparations	31.4%
Costs money	20.3%
Don’t believe it will actually be useful	18.5%
Don’t know what’s best to buy	17.1%
Bothersome	16.4%
Should be fine even if I don’t buy	12.2%
It’s probably all unnecessary	9.2%
Keep meaning to buy stuff, but end up putting it off	8.5%
It’s won’t spread to such a great extent	5.1%
Have a plan to buy later	4.1%
Don’t have time	1.8%
Don’t have anywhere to store it	1.7%
Wanted to buy, but the shops were all sold out	0.7%
Other	14.7%
No answer	1.2%

Q6: In order to prevent being infected with swine flu, which of the following do you carry out? (Sample size=13,813, multiple answer)

Wash hands thoroughly	73.8%
Gargle properly	56.5%
Coughing manners	35.1%
Avoid crowded locations	34.0%
Wear a mask	29.3%
Live a regular life, take lots of rest, etc to build up my resistance	23.2%
Don’t go out so much	16.6%
Gather as much information as possible on swine flu	16.4%
Don’t go to hospitals unnecessarily	16.0%
Wash hands, use antiseptic after coughing	10.5%
Avoid going to area with swine flu outbreaks	9.9%
Check the latest information on sufferers	9.1%
Keep my room humidity up	8.2%
Store up anti-flu goods, emergency foodstuff, etc	4.1%
Don’t use the same dishes, toilet as others	2.9%
Other	1.0%
Nothing in particular	11.0%
No answer	0.3%

Q7: If you have the opportunity to get a swine flu vaccination, will you actually get it? (Sample size=13,813, multiple answer)

Definitely will get it	13.6%
Probably will get it	26.4%
Can’t say either way	28.3%
Probably won’t get it	25.9%
Definitely won’t get it	5.3%
No answer	0.5%