Effectiveness of the Information Leaflet Personal Measures During Pandemic Flu A(H1N1) Issued by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic During the 2009/2010 Flu Pandemic

Abstract

Effective public health risk communication plays an important role in various crisis situations such as natural disasters and catastrophes, accidents, terrorist attacks, epidemics or pandemics, and significantly helps to minimise their negative impacts on health of the public. In our work we focused on communication of the health sector authorities with the public during the A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009-2010. We retrospectively analysed the effectiveness of the information leaflet Personal measures during pandemic flu A(H1N1) issued by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic and discovered statistically significant differences in attitudes of various groups of respondents (differing in age and academic background) to design, comprehensibility, and contents of the leaflet, as well as shortcomings in its accessibility and distribution. For preparation of future information materials aimed at epidemics, pandemics and/or other possible crisis situations in Slovakia it is highly recommended to take into consideration specificities and needs of particular target groups of population, ensure effective distribution of information materials, and pay better attention to preparation of the information campaign as the whole.

Keywords

• public health communication
• communication channels
• communication media
• pandemic flu
• a(h1n1) pandemic