AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention

Transcription

1 AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention December 2013

2 AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Report Prepared by Laura Skufca Copyright 2013 AARP Research 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC Reprinting with Permission

3 AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanishlanguage website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at Acknowledgements This work was done for the AARP Bulletin. The author would like to thank Barbranda Walls for her input, SSRS for collecting and tabulating the data, and Jennifer Leslie for prepping the report for publication. For more information about this study, please contact Laura Skufca at (202) or Lskufca@aarp.org.

4 AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention: Executive Summary The AARP Bulletin commissioned a nationwide survey in October 2013 in an effort to learn about preventative behaviors adults may engage in during cold and flu season to help prevent them from getting sick. The survey was conducted for AARP by SSRS, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted October 9-13, 2013 among a nationally representative sample of 1,005 adults age 18 and older 1. Key Findings Roughly half of adults (51%) plan to get a flu shot this year. This increases with age (60% of those 50+ compared to only 43% of those age 18-49). The most common preventative behavior is washing hands more often. Across age groups, nine in ten respondents (92%) say they wash their hands more often to protect themselves from germs. In general, women are more likely than men to engage in various preventative behaviors. For example, women (95%) are more likely than men (89%) to say they wash their hands more often. Women (78%) are also more likely than men (68%) to say they used hand sanitizers to protect themselves from germs. Most adults (72%) go to work or school when they are sick at least some of the time. More than half (52%) go to work or school most of the time when they are sick and two in ten (20%) say they go to school some of the time. Older adults (age 50+) are less likely than younger adults (age 18-49) to say they go to work or school when sick. More than half of younger adults (55%) say they go to work or school when sick most of the time compared to only 43% of older adults. Conclusions The results of this study show that only about half of all adults will get a flu shot this year. While a substantial portion do not plan to get a flu shot, most adults do engage in preventative behaviors such as washing their hands more often and using hand sanitizers to help protect themselves from germs that may make them sick. Unfortunately, most adults often go to work or school sick when sick. 1 The sampling error is +/ percentage points at the 95% confidence level. This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results would fall in a range of no more than three percentage points of what would have been obtained if every person age 18 or older had been surveyed. Throughout the report, results are presented using weighted data figures. AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 1

5 Detailed Findings Roughly half of adults (51%) plan to get, or have gotten a flu shot this year. Older adults (age 50+) are significantly more likely than younger adults (age 18-49) to say they plan to get a flu shot (60% compared to 43%). Figure 1 shows the percentage who plan to get a flu shot, by demographic subgroups. 100% Figure 1 Percentage of Adults Who Plan To Get a Flu Shot This Year 80% 60% 40% 51% 43% 60% 47% 54% 20% 0% Base: 1,005 (all adults) Total Age Age 50+ Men Women AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 2

6 This study finds that adults engage in a variety of preventative measures to help protect themselves from germs that may cause them to get sick. Not surprisingly, the most common behavior is washing hands more frequently with 92% of respondents saying they do so more often. This is followed by exercise (78%), ensuring adequate sleep (74%), and using hand sanitizers (73%). A much lesser percentage say they avoid crowds; however, four in ten (40%) indicate doing so. Older adults (45%) are more likely than younger adults (36%) to say they avoid crowds. Older adults (80%) are also more likely than younger adults (70%) to say they get adequate sleep. In general, women tend to engage in more of these behaviors than men. Table 1 shows the percentage of respondents who engage in each behavior, by age and gender. Table 1 Percentage who Engage in Various Preventative Behaviors to Help Protect Themselves from Germs by Age and Gender 2 Preventative Behavior Total Age Gender a 50+ b Men c Women d Wash hands more often 92% 92% 92% 89% 95% c Exercise 78% 80% 77% 81% 76% Ensure you get adequate sleep 74% 70% 80% a 73% 76% Use hand sanitizer 73% 76% 71% 68% 78% c Take vitamins or supplements 67% 65% 69% 61% 72% c Avoid crowds or public places 40% 36% 45% a 38% 42% Base: 1,005 (all adults) 2 Bold face percents in columns (which represent demographic subgroups) are significantly higher than percents in adjacent columns. Superscripts ( a/b/, c/d ) indicate those columns in which there is a statistically significant difference. AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 3

7 More than seven in ten adults (72%) say they go to work or school at least some of the time when they are sick. In fact, half (52%) say they go to work or school most of the time when sick. Significant age differences emerge with younger adults more likely to go to work or school when sick compared to younger adults (see Figure 3). Figure 2 Percentage of Adults Who Go to Work or School When Sick Most of the time Some of the time Total 52% 20% Age % 20% Age % 21% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Base: 1,005 (all adults) AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 4

8 Appendix A: Demographic Characteristics of the Sample Respondents in this study are 18 years of age or older with 56% being between the ages of and 44% age 50 and older. Slightly more than half of the respondents (52%) are female while slightly less than half (48%) are male. Sixty-four percent of the respondents are White, non-hispanic; 11% are Black, non- Hispanic and 14% are Hispanic. Half of the respondents are married (49%); seven percent are single/living with a partner, 24% are single/never married, 13% are separated or divorced, and six percent are widowed. Six in ten (59%) are employed either full-time (46%) or part-time (13%) while 19% are retired. Four in ten (44%) have a high-school diploma or less; 26% have some college training and 29% have a college degree or higher. Approximately half of the respondents (51%) report a household income of $50,000 a year or less; 22% report an income of $50, ,000 and 15% report a household income of $100,000 a year or more. AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 5

9 Appendix B: Annotated Questionnaire This study was conducted for AARP via telephone by SSRS, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted from October 9 October 13, 2013 among a nationally representative sample of 1,005 respondents age 18 and older. The margin of error for total respondents is + /-3.09% at the 95% confidence level. CF-01. Have you, or do you plan to, get a flu shot this year? 10/13/13 Total * * CF-02. I m going to read you a list of things some people do to protect themselves from germs that may cause them to get sick. For each one, please tell me whether or not you do this to protect yourself from germs. a. Wash hands more often 10/13/13 Total 92 8 * * * -- b. Take vitamins and supplements 10/13/13 Total * * c. Avoid crowded public places 10/13/13 Total * * * -- d. Use hand sanitizers 10/13/13 Total * * * * * e. Ensure you get an adequate amount sleep 10/13/13 Total * * * AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 6

10 CF-02. (continued) I m going to read you a list of things some people do to protect themselves from germs that may cause them to get sick. For each one, please tell me whether or not you do this to protect yourself from germs. f. Exercise 10/13/13 Total * * * -- (Asked of total who are employed or are students; n = 561; = 347; 50+ = 213) CF-03. How often do you go to work and/or school when you are sick? Would you say MOST/SOME OF THE TIME RARELY/NEVER Don t NET Most of the time Some of the time NET Rarely Never know Refused 10/13/13 Total * CF-03 Combo/Employment based on total respondents 10/13/13 Total Total employed/student (NET) Go to work/school while sick most of the time Go to work/school while sick some of the time Go to work/school while sick rarely Never go to work/school while sick Not employed/student AARP Bulletin Survey on Flu Prevention Page 7