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Volume 22, Number 1—January 2016
Letter

Anticipated Negative Responses by Students to Possible Ebola Virus Outbreak, Guangzhou, China

Joseph T.F. LauComments to Author , Zixin Wang, Yoona Kim, Jing Gu, Anise M.S. Wu, Qianling Zhou, Chun Hao, Perry Cheng, and Yuantao Hao
Author affiliations: Centre for Medical Anthropology and Behavioral Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China (J.T.F. Lau); Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China (J.T.F. Lau); Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (J.T.F. Lau, Z. Wang, Y. Kim, Q. Zhou, P. Cheng); Sun Yat-sen University School of Public Health, Guangzhou, China (J. Gu, C. Hao, Y. Hao); University of Macau, Macau, China (A.M.S. Wu)

Main Article

Table

Factors associated with anticipated responses to EVD, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, Guangzhou, China, 2014*

Factor
Emotional Response to Ebola Scale† Unnecessary Avoidance Scale‡
β (SE)
p value

β (SE)
p value
Perceived severity of EVD
EVD is fatal 1.270 (0.928) 0.171 0.855 (0.388) 0.027
EVD causes irreversible harm to physical health 2.647 (0.637) <0.001 0.504 (0.064) 0.064
Perceived fatality of EVD 2.545 (0.635) <0.001 1.177 (0.269) <0.001
Perceived high infectivity of EVD
1.568 (0.842)
0.063

1.273 (0.350)
<0.001
Treatment and vaccine availability
Treatment not available 2.143 (0.639) <0.001 1.108 (0.271) <0.001
Vaccine not available
1.236 (0.654)
0.059

0.786 (0.276)
0.005
Misconceptions and knowledge about modes of transmission of EVD
Misconceptions about Mode of Transmission Scale 0.406 (0.113) <0.001 0.214 (0.048) <0.001
Knowledge about Mode of Transmission Scale
0.285 (0.171)
0.095

0.369 (0.071)
<0.001
Perceptions related to EVD outbreak
Chances of Outbreak Scale—Guangzhou 0.688 (0.091) <0.001 0.064 (0.039) 0.100
Perceived Chances of Outbreak Scale—Other Parts of China 0.986 (0.189) <0.001 0.151 (0.081) 0.062
Perceived Severity of Outbreak in Guangzhou Scale 0.825 (0.072) <0.001 0.222 (0.031) <0.001
Confidence in Governmental Control Scale
−1.024 (0.086)
<0.001

−0.192 (0.038)
<0.001
Perceived efficacy and self-efficacy
Perceived Efficacy of Restricting Africans Travel Scale 1.003 (0.176) <0.001 0.543 (0.073) <0.001
Perceived Efficacy of Avoidance Scale 0.544 (0.138) <0.001 0.595 (0.056) <0.001
Perceived Self-Efficacy for Protection against EVD Scale
−0.571 (0.145)
<0.001

−0.112 (0.062)
0.070
Public stigma toward EVD survivors
Public Stigma Scale 0.231 (0.032) <0.001 0.125 (0.013) <0.001

*Among participants who had heard of EVD (n = 1,155). Bold indicates significance. β, multilevel linear regression coefficient adjusted by significant background variables; EVD, Ebola virus disease.
†Anticipated Emotional Response to Ebola Scale items included the following: “If there are 2–3 EVD cases in Guangzhou, how likely would you 1) worry about getting infected with EVD, 2) worry about family members getting infected with EVD, 3) be scared, 4) be uneasy, 5) be in panic, 6) feel helpless, 7) be depressed, 8) have insomnia, 9) be distressed, 10) have fluctuating emotions, and 11) be emotionally disturbed.” Response categories: 1 = very unlikely, 5 = very likely.
‡Unnecessary Avoidance Scale items included the following: “If there are 2–3 EVD cases in Guangzhou, how likely would you be to 1) avoid going to other cities, 2) avoid going to work, 3) avoid going out if unnecessary, 4) avoid going to crowded places, 5) avoid going to hospitals, and 6) avoid taking airplanes.” Response categories: 1 = very unlikely, 5 = very likely.

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Page updated: December 18, 2015
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