H1N1 Influenza Pandemic - Assignment Example

H1N1 Influenza Pandemic - Proposal The most recent pandemic of global proportions, Swine Flu, also known as the Influenza A-H1NI, has captivated the attention of the international community and represents one of the most serious and sustained threats to the health of people around the world. Seeking to study a universitys H1N1 risk communication efforts (in preparation for a possible H1N1 influenza pandemic) aimed at its students and faculty, the following will provide the parameters of the research analysis. This study will provide an introspective look at the effectiveness of the communication strategies utilized by universities across the country. Accordingly, this proposal will be structured in the following manner. Our introduction will provide a brief yet thorough description of the scope of the research proposal and the issues surrounding the latest pandemic of the 21st century. Following this introduction we turn to an overview of research aims and questions. What are the communications strategies employed by universities with respect to the H1N1 influenza pandemic? Have these communications strategies been effective? If so, why? If not, why not? These questions and many more will be elaborated upon further in this analysis. This will be followed by a description of our methodology and questions surrounding measurement and the coding of variables. Seeking to employ a multifaceted qualitative/quantitative analysis, this project aims to utilize both forms of analysis. We will conclude with a concise overview of this important project proposal and end with a section detailing our conclusions and recommendations. We now turn to our introduction to the H1N1 influenza pandemic (Wang and Palese, 321-328). Introduction The following will provide a concise introduction to this important international health concern. We will explain what Swine Flu is, how it came it about and the measures currently implemented throughout the world to tackle this important diseases. What is Swine Flu? Swine Flu is a new strain of the relatively common influenza virus and was first identified in April of 2009. By June of this year, the United Nation’s World Health Organization (WHO) stated that this influenza mutation has spread to more than 70 countries worldwide. Accordingly, by June 2009, 73 countries had reported 25,288 cases of the Influenza A-H1NI virus, resulting in a total of 139 deaths around the globe. The United Nations has given this disease a pandemic alert status of 5 and while infections have been global, but deaths have only been found in the following six countries: Mexico, the United States, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Accordingly, the majority of the Swine Flu related deaths have been in Mexico where 106 people have perished, according to most recent reports (BBC 2009). How is Swine Flu spread? This influenza virus is generally transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs although the infection of humans occurs most often with people in close proximity to infected pigs. Importantly, transmission from one human to another can also occur. Much like seasonal flu, human to human transmissions occurs through the coughing and sneezing of people infected with the virus. Currently, there are many steps being taken by countries around the world to prevent the spread of Swine Flu. It is to these questions that we now turn (BBC 2009; Couch 529-530). What steps are being taken to prevent the spread of Swine Flu? Travel to Mexico has recently been restricted by many countries – this is where the outbreak first occurred – and this has been a controversial, yet global, response to the Swine Flu outbreak. Governments have quarantined as well as killed cattle herds (Canada, the United States and Mexico are just three examples of countries who have done this). In the United States and Mexico, inspections are being carried out at borders and airports to stop the international spread of this virus (BBC 2009; Silversides 13-14). Research Aims and Questions: Seeking to understand the ability of universities and other institutions of higher education combat the Swine Flu phenomenon, I propose an exploratory research project which will study how universities have effectively communicated the threats of this important and pending pandemic. Despite the widespread coverage surrounding the H1N1 influenza pandemic, there seems to be little knowledge among students and staff and at my university about the concrete steps being undertaken by the institution to combat the pending crisis. With this in mind, I hope to answer the following questions as part of the analysis: What are the key components of the H1N1 risk communication efforts by the universities of this country? What sort of methods have these universities employed in order to appeal to their target demographic of students and staff in a post-secondary setting? Looking at one university in particular (yet to be named), what are the perceptions of faculty and students alike of the universitys H1N1 risk communication efforts? How effective have H1N1 risk communication efforts been to faculty/student body? If they have been effective, how have they worked? If they have been ineffective, why is it so? Methods: Seeking to provide as holistic an analysis as possible, we propose a heterogeneous sampling model. This model will allow us to include all opinions or views and we are not concerned about representing these views proportionately. Accordingly, a qualitative analysis suits the parameters of this project best. This project will be the result of extensive research and the bulk of the data explored will be obtained through scholarly analysis of communication theory as well as a comprehensive literature review of all current scholarly information on the subject. Although primarily qualitative in nature, if quantitative data is available, this information has been integrated into the overall analysis. To this end, scholarly journals websites and the latest books on the subject will be utilized. This research intends to undertake data collection through extensive research and coding of relevant information. Surveys, in-depth interviews will take place as this researcher attempts to narrow the focus onto one institute of higher education. In addition to scholarly research on the subject, this researcher has sought out primary documents from a variety of actors, both at home and abroad. Measurement: Utilizing an ethnographic qualitative approach, we propose to use direct observation of our respondent group as well as apply indirect measures such as written documents. Through in-depth interviews with individuals and groups, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the issues at hand. Our interview structure will be followed by survey research in the form of a questionnaire, in order to form generalizations. A timetable will entail nine months of research and writing, beginning October 15, 2009. Prior to this date, this researcher will be undertaking a thorough review of all scholarly information on the subject of the Influenza A-H1NI virus. Since the awareness of this virus is quite recent, this researcher anticipates minor challenges accessing peer-reviewed information on this subject. An early timetable for completion posits that research will be undertaken between now and December 31 2009. A complete draft will be prepared before the end of the scholastic year in 2010. Conclusions and Recommendations Swine Flu represents one of the most serious and sustained threats to global health in recent years. Much like the SARS epidemic of the early twenty-first century, the Swine Flu crisis has become an epidemic of global proportions. From London to Zurich and from New York to New Delhi, people everywhere are taking precautious to safeguard themselves from this deadly virus. Will Swine Flu be as deadly as SARS was six years ago? Only time will tell. What is known right now is that this disease has the potential to wreak incredible havoc around the world and that is preciously why it is being tackled with vigor. The Influenza A-H1NI virus is the most recent pandemic of global proportions and it has been a news item since its first inception. This study aims to provide an introspective look at the effectiveness of the communication strategies utilized by universities across the country and further strengthen the analysis by focusing on the particular strategies employed by one university in particular. Thus, the analysis will be comparative in nature. With respect to the lone university under analysis, qualitative data will be obtained through surveys and in-depth interviews with random population samples. Swine Flu has captivated the attention of the global media and represents one of the most serious and sustained threats to the health of people around the world. How have universities communicated this threat to their constituents? This project will provide a holistic analysis and will address the issue of communicating the threat of Swine Flu within a post-secondary educational setting (Silversides, 2009). WORKS CITED Couch, R.B. & J. A. Kasel. “Immunity to Influenza in Man”. Annual Review of Microbiology, 37(1983): 529-549. British Broadcasting Corporation. “The World Response to the Swine Flu Crisis”. Last Accessed September 08 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8022516.stm Silversides, A. “Swine flu outbreak tests Canadian preparedness” Canadian Medical Association Journal, 180.12(April, 2009), 13-14. T.T. Wang & P. Palese. “Unraveling the Mystery of Swine Influenza Virus”. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 200:3(2009): 321–328. Read More