RISK PERCEPTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS RELATED TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Abstract

Specific Aims: 1) To examine the perception of risk in international college students who travel related to non-sexually transmitted communicable diseases. 2) To examine the behavioral responses of international college students related to non-sexually transmitted communicable diseases.

Purpose of the Study: To examine the international college student’s knowledge, understanding and perception of risk, attitude, and behaviors pertaining to non-sexually transmitted communicable disease universal prevention efforts. In communicable diseases the experiences are not the same, so the knowledge is not universal. Additional knowledge is needed regarding the influences of cultural and societal factors on health behaviors in populations which meet the IOM criteria for selective prevention which includes the international student.

Rationale: There is a lack of knowledge regarding the knowledge, perception of risk and preventive behaviors of the international college students who travel. Researchers must first understand the responses of these at risk students to universal intervention efforts before effective selective preventive interventions can be developed.

Background: The H1N1 pandemic resulted in 2,125 deaths in the US and 18,449 deaths worldwide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, 2009; World Health Organization, 2010a). The increasing ability of travelers such as international students to cover large distances to visit family and friends and the reduced efficacy of universal precautions have resulted in the World Health Organization calling for more research into the societal and cultural perspectives which influence risk perception.

Methods: This research study utilizes a parallel descriptive mixed method design in which there are two relatively independent questions, and data collection and analysis strands: one quantitative and the other qualitative (Quant-qual).

Sample: A total of six universities/colleges will be used in this study to provide a diverse population. The schools chosen will reflect both private and public. Azusa Pacific University, Loma Linda University and La Sierra University, University of California, California State University San Bernardino, Riverside Community College.

Quantitative method will utilize the Risk Perception of Infectious Diseases Questionnaire (RPIDQ) in a convenience sample of 384 (approximately 64 from each campus) male and female students from identified countries ages 18 through 40 years of age who meet the sample selection criteria. This sample size was determined using a power analysis for t-test to achieve a power of .90 with an alpha of 0.05 and an effect size of .30 (Chaves, et al., 2009).

Qualitative method will utilize individual interviews with a subset of 15 students will be selected from the original internet survey sample.

Results: Data collection in progress

Significance to Nursing Science: The impact of the findings from this study will be to reduce the gap in the understanding of the complexities of non-sexually transmitted communicable disease experienced by international college students and the impact these complexities have upon their health behaviors. Through the development of this understanding educational and interventional efforts may be developed which will provide for selective prevention efforts for this population.