Internet Survey Regarding Knowledge About the Common Cold in Japan

Abstract

Background: Our aim was to assess people’s knowledge about the common cold and to identify factors leading to medical consultation for intravenous infusion or injection. We expect that this knowledge will be used to develop educational interventions that facilitate appropriate self-care and decision-making regarding whether or not to seek medical consultation.

Methods: This study was conducted among people aged 20 to 79, excluding healthcare professionals. A national Internet survey administered in 2012 asked 17 questions about the prevention of, general knowledge about, and behaviors for coping with the common cold. Factors associated with the belief that early symptom relief could be achieved by infusion or injection were evaluated by multivariate analysis.

Results: Three hundred and forty-eight (348) people (mean age: 48.6 ± 16.9 years) were included in the analysis. Nearly 80% of participants endorsed questionnaire items stating that “taking cold medicines earlier” and “receiving an infusion or injection” were appropriate actions for recovering from a cold, and more than 60% reported that “you should see a doctor when you catch a cold”. Factors affecting the expectation that infusion or injection would provide early symptom relief included younger age and inaccurate knowledge about treatment of the common cold, for instance the idea that “you can recover from a cold earlier if you take cold medicines”.

Conclusions: We found that people’s knowledge about prevention of the common cold was relatively sufficient, but their understanding of the clinical issues and treatment related to the common cold was not. Since the expectation that infusion or injection would provide early symptom relief was associated with inaccurate knowledge about treatment of the common cold, it is considered that people require further health literacy education.




Clin Infect Immun. 2018;3(2):37-44
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cii56w