Physicians' Concern About Flu Pandemic Highest Since April

A new national study among 675 physicians revealed that nearly half of physicians (48 percent) reported that the H1N1 influenza virus poses some level of risk for a worldwide catastrophic pandemic, the highest percentage since an April study.

The study was conducted last night by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com Web site and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO), as part of a series of studies which were conducted during April, May and June to obtain physicians' perceptions of the H1N1 virus. The studies are being conducted on a weekly basis to measure physicians' personal and professional views on the issue.

"Our recent study revealed that the level of concern among physicians regarding a potential H1N1 pandemic has somewhat spiked since our June 10 study," says Glenn Kessler, president and CEO of HCD Research.

The study revealed that 10 percent of physicians reported that there is a high risk that H1N1 will result in a catastrophic pandemic, compared to 6 percent from two studies conducted in June. In addition, 15 percent of physicians reported that they were either concerned or extremely concerned regarding the degree of impact that H1N1 will have on themselves and their family, compared to 9 percent from a study conducted on June 10.