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Table 1 Questionnaire items (some items reverse coded)

From: Perceptual influences on self-protective behavior for West Nile virus, A survey in Colorado, USA

Protective Behavior (0 never, 1 sometimes, 2 usually, 3 always)

Wore long sleeves/pants to protect against mosquitoes when outside at dawn dusk.

Stayed indoors at dusk or dawn to avoid mosquitoes.

Used mosquito repellant when out at dawn or dusk.

Avoided mosquito-prone areas at dawn or dusk.

Used bug zappers if outdoors at dawn or dusk.

Used citronella candles if out at dawn or dusk.

Wore long sleeves/pants when going outside at dawn or dusk only for a few minutes.

Used mosquito repellant when going outside at dawn or dusk only for a few minutes.

Risk Perception (1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

I do not feel very knowledgeable about the risk of West Nile virus (cognitive)

I don't have any choice over my exposure to West Nile virus. (cognitive)

I believe that the risk of West Nile virus is increasing over time. (cognitive)

The thought of West Nile virus fills me with dread or fear. (affective)

The thought of West Nile virus makes me feel sad or depressed. (affective)

The thought of West Nile virus makes me feel anxious or worried. (affective)

Proximity (1 definitely not, 2 possibly, 3 definitely yes)

I have seen dead birds in the area that might have carried West Nile virus.

Have you ever become sick with West Nile virus?

Has anyone else in your household ever become sick with West Nile virus?

Do you know of anyone in your neighborhood who has become sick with West Nile?

Do you know of anyone outside your neighborhood who has become sick w/ WNV?

Ecology (1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

I don't think about West Nile very often because I almost never see a mosquito

It's too dry in this area of Colorado to have a bad mosquito problem.

My part of town does not have a bad problem with mosquitoes.

Spraying or other city efforts keep mosquitoes under control in my area.

Susceptibility (HBM)(1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

It is likely I will get sick from West Nile virus.

My chances of getting sick from West Nile virus in the next few years are great.

I feel I will get sick from West Nile virus sometime during my life.

Severity (HBM) (1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

I am not worried because most people who get West Nile virus don't get sick.

The thought of West Nile virus scares me.

If I got sick from West Nile virus, the illness would last a long time.

Benefits (HBM) (1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

When I avoid mosquitoes I am doing something to take care of myself.

When I put on repellant I am doing something to take care of myself.

Avoiding mosquitoes will decrease my chances of getting West Nile virus.

Putting on repellant will decrease my chances of getting West Nile virus.

When I avoid mosquitoes I don’t worry as much about West Nile virus.

When I put on repellant I don’t worry as much about West Nile virus.

Using mosquito repellant helps me avoid the bother and discomfort of mosquito bites.

When I use mosquito repellant I set a good example for others.

When I avoid mosquitoes I set a good example for others.

Barriers (HBM) (1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neutral, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree)

Avoiding mosquitoes keeps me from doing things I want to do.

Putting on repellant is embarrassing to me.

Avoiding mosquitoes will take too much time.

Putting on repellant will take too much time.

It is hard to remember to put on repellant.

Putting on repellant is unpleasant.

Putting on repellant with DEET is not safe.

Effective mosquito repellant is expensive.

Effective mosquito repellant is difficult to find.

Cues (HBM) (0 none, 1 a little, 2 some, 3 much, 4 very much)

How much information did you see or hear this summer about West Nile virus from these sources:

Newspapers, TV, Radio, Mail, Web, Family, Friends, Doctors