Table 2 Change in affective response, knowledge, and cognitive response in the two consecutive surveys about EVD
First survey | Second survey | Difference | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Affective response | ||||
Percentage of participants who are worried... | ||||
about EVD. | 27.3% | 2.7% | 24.6% | < 0.001 |
that in the next three months people might arrive in Germany who are identified as infected persons after their entry. | 77.0% | 27.6% | 49.4% | < 0.001 |
that individual persons might be infected with the Ebola virus in Germany during the next six months. | 57.7% | 19.7% | 38.0% | < 0.001 |
that in the next six months Ebola could spread in the general population of Germany similar to how it is spreading currently in Western Africa. | 3.2% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.015 |
Knowledge | ||||
Percentage of participants who answer correctly | ||||
By direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, either dead or living | 94.3% | 96.1% | −1.8% | 0.11 |
By direct contact with infected, but asymptomatic persons | 26.6% | 8.4% | 18.2% | < 0.001 |
Through air, if infected people cough or sneeze | 27.6% | 18.3% | 9.3% | < 0.001 |
Through material which has been heavily contaminated with bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons | 84.8% | 80.2% | 4.6% | 0.015 |
Through drinking water | 66.4% | 55.1% | 11.3% | < 0.001 |
Through food produced in Germany | 96.7% | 93.7% | 3.0% | 0.0068 |
By casual contact with someone already sick, such as sitting next to the person (without any direct contact of bodily fluids) | 59.6% | 51.3% | 8.3% | < 0.001 |
By wild animals in Africa (monkeys, bats) | 50.3% | 55.2% | −4.9% | 0.021 |
By wild animals in Germany (rats, foxes) | 79.0% | 81.8% | −2.8% | 0.14 |
By insects in Africa (mosquitoes, tsetse flies) | 57.9% | 53.3% | 4.6% | 0.053 |
By insects in Germany (midges) | 85.1% | 85.4% | −0.3% | 0.92 |
Cognitive response: likelihood of infection | ||||
Percentage of participants who think that they have a personal risk of acquiring Ebola… | ||||
at work. | 9.3% | 3.9% | 5.4% | < 0.001 |
in public transport. | 16.4% | 7.4% | 9.0% | < 0.001 |
in public places (school, childcare …) or public events. | 16.6% | 8.5% | 8.1% | < 0.001 |
at an airport in Germany. | 37.4% | 21.6% | 15.8% | < 0.001 |
as a patient in a German hospital. | 14.8% | 8.9% | 5.9% | < 0.001 |
at a doctor’s office in Germany. | 16.2% | 8.1% | 8.1% | < 0.001 |
during a travel to affected countries. | 72.3% | 57.3% | 15.0% | < 0.001 |
Cognitive response: personal impact | ||||
Percentage of participants who would… | ||||
avoid public events and crowded places. | 15.1% | 14.6% | 0.5% | 0.77 |
avoid using public transport. | 14.7% | 13.1% | 1.6% | 0.29 |
avoid physical contact with other people. | 33.9% | 30.3% | 3.6% | 0.086 |
pay more attention to hygiene (e.g. wash hands more often). | 66.6% | 61.0% | 5.6% | 0.0091 |
wear a face mask outside of my home. | 1.1% | 1.8% | −0.7% | 0.33 |
not want to be admitted to the same hospital. | 49.4% | 42.5% | 6.9% | < 0.001 |
not visit friends admitted to the same hospital. | 26.8% | 20.9% | 5.9% | 0.0024 |
Cognitive response: coping efficacy | ||||
Percentage of participants who support specific measure to prevent the spread of EVD to Europe | ||||
Provide information on EVD for all travellers coming from affected areas and advice in case of developing symptoms | 97.2% | 93.6% | 3.6% | 0.0018 |
Get personal information of all travellers coming from affected areas and control their health three weeks long | 68.9% | 49.9% | 19.0% | < 0.001 |
Forbid return transport of Germans getting infected during assistance intervention in Western Africa | 8.5% | 8.6% | −0.1% | 0.9 |
Forbid bringing EVD patients for treatment to Germany | 24.8% | 23.3% | 1.5% | 0.43 |
Measure temperature of all travellers coming from affected countries when they arrive in Europe with subsequent quarantine for those with high temperature | 58.4% | 39.2% | 19.2% | < 0.001 |
Measure temperature of all travellers coming from affected countries when they leave Africa with subsequent quarantine for those with high temperature | 53.3% | 41.4% | 11.9% | < 0.001 |
Mandatory quarantine for all volunteers returning from assistance intervention in Western Africa | 38.5% | 28.4% | 10.1% | < 0.001 |
Visa ban for people from affected countries | 16.9% | 7.7% | 9.2% | < 0.001 |
Forbid traveling from Germany to affected countries in Africa | 15.5% | 8.3% | 7.2% | < 0.001 |
Compulsory vaccination against Ebola for all inhabitants of affected countries as soon as a vaccine is available | 86.6% | 88.3% | −1.7% | 0.29 |