“I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza
Abstract Background Growing numbers of people have been potentially exposed to avian influenza (AI), as the United Kingdom has managed the largest and most sustained series outbreaks in recent years. Antiviral medication is recommended for exposed individuals for chemoprophylaxis to reduce the sever...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21459-3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861585159913472 |
|---|---|
| author | Riinu Pae Lucy Findlater Richard Amlôt Fernando Capelastegui Gavin Dabrera Clare Humphreys Jharna Kumbang Isabel Oliver |
| author_facet | Riinu Pae Lucy Findlater Richard Amlôt Fernando Capelastegui Gavin Dabrera Clare Humphreys Jharna Kumbang Isabel Oliver |
| author_sort | Riinu Pae |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Growing numbers of people have been potentially exposed to avian influenza (AI), as the United Kingdom has managed the largest and most sustained series outbreaks in recent years. Antiviral medication is recommended for exposed individuals for chemoprophylaxis to reduce the severity of illness and the likelihood of secondary transmission. However, some individuals have been hesitant or declined antivirals. In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting the uptake of and adherence to antiviral medication. Methods We interviewed 14 individuals occupationally exposed to avian influenza and conducted focus groups with 15 public health professionals involved in advising and arranging antivirals. The data were analysed thematically based on COM-B factors (capability, opportunity, motivation). Results Although participants saw avian influenza as a severe disease, most did not consider themselves susceptible to it because they felt safe in personal protective equipment and knew that bird-to-human transmission was rare. The biggest barrier to uptake and adherence was experiencing side effects, especially if these disrupted day-to-day life or work. Participants who took antivirals followed medical advice in a novel situation, had health conditions or vulnerable family members they wanted to protect. As responding to an outbreak was exhausting, easy access to antivirals for those at most risk was considered important for improving uptake. Conclusions The factors affecting antiviral uptake were multifaceted. Public health interventions should prioritise those at most risk and address multiple components of behaviour, such as advising how to manage side effects, addressing concerns about long-term usage and providing convenient access to antivirals for those at most risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b01330900cb14a00960eeea1d2e13744 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b01330900cb14a00960eeea1d2e137442025-02-09T12:57:47ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-21459-3“I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenzaRiinu Pae0Lucy Findlater1Richard Amlôt2Fernando Capelastegui3Gavin Dabrera4Clare Humphreys5Jharna Kumbang6Isabel Oliver7South West Health Protection Team, UK Health Security AgencyScience Group, UK Health Security AgencyBehavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security AgencyTARZET Division, Clinical and Public Health Group, UK Health Security AgencyTARZET Division, Clinical and Public Health Group, UK Health Security AgencySouth West Health Protection Team, UK Health Security AgencyEast Midlands Health Protection Team, UK Health Security AgencyScience Group, UK Health Security AgencyAbstract Background Growing numbers of people have been potentially exposed to avian influenza (AI), as the United Kingdom has managed the largest and most sustained series outbreaks in recent years. Antiviral medication is recommended for exposed individuals for chemoprophylaxis to reduce the severity of illness and the likelihood of secondary transmission. However, some individuals have been hesitant or declined antivirals. In this study, we aimed to identify the factors affecting the uptake of and adherence to antiviral medication. Methods We interviewed 14 individuals occupationally exposed to avian influenza and conducted focus groups with 15 public health professionals involved in advising and arranging antivirals. The data were analysed thematically based on COM-B factors (capability, opportunity, motivation). Results Although participants saw avian influenza as a severe disease, most did not consider themselves susceptible to it because they felt safe in personal protective equipment and knew that bird-to-human transmission was rare. The biggest barrier to uptake and adherence was experiencing side effects, especially if these disrupted day-to-day life or work. Participants who took antivirals followed medical advice in a novel situation, had health conditions or vulnerable family members they wanted to protect. As responding to an outbreak was exhausting, easy access to antivirals for those at most risk was considered important for improving uptake. Conclusions The factors affecting antiviral uptake were multifaceted. Public health interventions should prioritise those at most risk and address multiple components of behaviour, such as advising how to manage side effects, addressing concerns about long-term usage and providing convenient access to antivirals for those at most risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21459-3“Avian influenza”“Antiviral medication”“Uptake”“Adherence”“Occupational exposure”“Behaviour” |
| spellingShingle | Riinu Pae Lucy Findlater Richard Amlôt Fernando Capelastegui Gavin Dabrera Clare Humphreys Jharna Kumbang Isabel Oliver “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza BMC Public Health “Avian influenza” “Antiviral medication” “Uptake” “Adherence” “Occupational exposure” “Behaviour” |
| title | “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| title_full | “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| title_fullStr | “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| title_short | “I definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there’s no need to be”: a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| title_sort | i definitely cannot afford to be feeling poorly if there s no need to be a qualitative evaluation of antiviral uptake following suspected occupational exposure to avian influenza |
| topic | “Avian influenza” “Antiviral medication” “Uptake” “Adherence” “Occupational exposure” “Behaviour” |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21459-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT riinupae idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT lucyfindlater idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT richardamlot idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT fernandocapelastegui idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT gavindabrera idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT clarehumphreys idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT jharnakumbang idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza AT isabeloliver idefinitelycannotaffordtobefeelingpoorlyiftheresnoneedtobeaqualitativeevaluationofantiviraluptakefollowingsuspectedoccupationalexposuretoavianinfluenza |