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Physicians Question Government Preparedness for Avian Bird Flu; Majority Believe Government, Medical Community Ill-Prepared

Posted on: Monday, 24 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

A new national survey of 846 physicians revealed that a clear majority believe that the federal government and the medical community are unprepared to deal with an Avian Bird Flu epidemic in the United States.

The national survey was conducted by HCD Research and Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) during October 20-21, in response to reports that the flu has been identified in several European countries.

Among the findings:

-- Almost half of all physicians (42%) believe that the federal government is very unprepared to deal with an Avian Bird Flu epidemic, and 37% believe that the government is somewhat unprepared.

-- A similar number of physicians (43%) feel that the medical community is somewhat unprepared to deal with a Bird Flu epidemic, and 32 % believe that the medical community is very unprepared.

-- The majority of physicians (57%) reported that they are somewhat concerned that there will be a pandemic over the Avian Bird Flu, while nearly one quarter of physicians (20%) indicated that they are extremely concerned.

-- Only 7% of physicians have witnessed high levels of concern among their patients regarding the Avian Bird Flu, with 44% indicating low levels of concern among their patient populations.

-- Nearly half of physicians (48%) reported that at least one of their patients without symptoms, have requested antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu.

"The survey results clearly show that physicians are exhibiting high levels of concern over a potential outbreak of Avian Flu in the United States," stated Christopher Borick, Ph.D., Associate Political Science Professor, Muhlenberg College. "Their concerns appear to be directly related to their lack of confidence in the federal government and the medical community to effectively deal with an Avian Flu epidemic within the nation's borders," he explained.

"Relative to other studies that we have conducted on health care issues, there appears to be significant unanimity among physicians with regard to their views on the preparedness of the federal government and the medical community to deal with a Bird Flu epidemic," noted Glenn Kessler, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, HCD Research.

To view detailed results for the physicians' poll, please go to: http://publish.hcdhealth.com/P1010/

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the poll, or to speak with Glenn Kessler or Dr. Borick, please contact Vince McGourty, M&M Communications, Inc., at (908) 638-5555 or (vinmcg@earthlink.net).

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based marketing and communications research. HCD Research is also the developer of readmylipz.com, a political ad testing web site for the 2004 Presidential campaign. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, MCIPO is a respected source of public opinion data on local, state and national issues.

Source: Business Wire

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