Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T22:01:03.442Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rumor-Related and Exclusive Behavior Coverage in Internet News Reports Following the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Outbreak in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2015

Jun Shigemura ,
Nahoko Harada ,
Masaaki Tanichi ,
Masanori Nagamine ,
Kunio Shimizu ,
Yoshiaki Katsuda ,
Shinichi Tokuno ,
Gentaro Tsumatori  and
Aihide Yoshino
Jun Shigemura*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
Nahoko Harada
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan, and William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Masaaki Tanichi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan Department of Psychiatry, Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Masanori Nagamine
Affiliation:
Division of Behavioral Science, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Tokorozawa, Japan
Kunio Shimizu
Affiliation:
Division of Behavioral Science, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Tokorozawa, Japan
Yoshiaki Katsuda
Affiliation:
Department of Social Welfare, Kansai University of Social Welfare, Ako, Japan
Shinichi Tokuno
Affiliation:
Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
Gentaro Tsumatori
Affiliation:
Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
Aihide Yoshino
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Jun Shigemura, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan (e-mail [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

We sought to elucidate news article reporting of adverse public psychosocial behaviors, in particular, rumor-related coverage (eg, panic, demagoguery) and exclusive behavior coverage (negative behaviors, eg, discrimination, bullying) during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) influenza pandemic in Japan.

Methods

We examined 154 Internet news-site articles reporting adverse public psychosocial responses in the first 60 days of the outbreak. Rumor-related coverage and exclusive behavior coverage were dichotomously coded as included or not. Moreover, we assessed whether or not health information (eg, coping methods, virus toxicity information) or emphasis on information quality (eg, importance of information, cautions about overreactions) were simultaneously reported.

Results

Rumor-related coverage (n=120, 77.9%) was less likely to simultaneously report public health information (eg, toxicity information, health support information, and cautions about overreactions; P<.05). Conversely, exclusive behavior coverage (n=41, 26.6%) was more likely to report public health information (P<.05).

Conclusions

Rumor-related coverage was less likely to have accompanying public health information, whereas exclusive behavior coverage was more likely to include it. During public health crises, it is essential to understand that rumors and exclusive behaviors have adverse effects on the public and that accompanying public health information may help people take proactive coping actions. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:459–463)

Keywords

pandemicrisk communicationpublic behaviorrumorstigmatization
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , August 2015 , pp. 459 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Chan, M. World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic. World Health Organization website. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/. Published June 11, 2009. Accessed March 1, 2015.Google Scholar
2. Reynolds, B, Quinn Crouse, S. Effective communication during an influenza pandemic: the value of using a crisis and emergency risk communication framework. Health Promot Pract. 2008;9(4 Suppl):13S-17S.Google Scholar
3. Glik, DC. Risk communication for public health emergencies. Annu Rev Public Health. 2007;28:33-54.Google Scholar
4. Shigemura, J, Nakamoto, K, Ursano, RJ. Responses to the outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) in Japan: risk communication and shimaguni konjo. Am J Disaster Med. 2009;4:133-134.Google Scholar
5. Kawaguchi, R, Miyazono, M, Noda, T, et al. Influenza (H1N1) 2009 outbreak and school closure, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15:1685.Google Scholar
6. Kamigaki, T, Oshitani, H. Epidemiological characteristics and low case fatality rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Japan. PLoS Currents. 2009;1:RRN1139.Google Scholar
7. Economic impact of novel influenza in the Kansai region: late May to early August, 2009 [in Japanese]. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kenkou/kekkaku-kansenshou04/dl/infu100428-08.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2014.Google Scholar
8. Potential damage to the travel industry. Novel influenza—a wave of cancellations [in Japanese]. The Yomiuri Shimbun. May 21, 2009:11.Google Scholar
9. Barrett, R, Brown, PJ. Stigma in the time of influenza: social and institutional responses to pandemic emergencies. J Infect Dis. 2008;197(suppl 1):S34-S37.Google Scholar
10. Goodwin, R, Sun, S. Public perceptions and reactions to H7N9 in Mainland China. J Infect. 2013;67:458-462.Google Scholar
11. 2013 national media contact and evaluation survey [in Japanese]. The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association website. http://www.pressnet.or.jp/adarc/data/rep/2013media/2013media.pdf. Accessed May 12, 2014.Google Scholar
12. Wada, K. Lessons learned from non-pharmaceutical public health responses to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Japan. Open Public Health J. 2010;3:13-19.Google Scholar
13. Mawson, AR. Understanding mass panic and other collective responses to threat and disaster. Psychiatry. 2005;68:95-113.Google Scholar
14. Harada, N, Alexander, N, Olowokure, B, et al. Avian influenza A(H7N9): information-sharing through government web sites in the Western Pacific Region. Western Pac Surveill Response J. 2013;4:44-46.Google Scholar
15. Person, B, Sy, F, Holton, K, et al. Fear and stigma: the epidemic within the SARS outbreak. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10:358-363.Google Scholar
16. Rubin, GJ, Amlôt, R, Page, L, et al. Public perceptions, anxiety, and behaviour change in relation to the swine flu outbreak: cross sectional telephone survey. BMJ. 2009;339:b2651.Google Scholar
17. Bromet, EJ, Havenaar, JM. Psychological and perceived health effects of the Chernobyl disaster: a 20-year review. Health Phys. 2007;93:516-521.Google Scholar