Pfizer launches health info hub

Australians think they should take better care of their general health and are seeking to improve their understanding of health and wellbeing, according to a survey from Pfizer.

Three in five participants believe it is important to be up-to-date with their immunisation schedule and 66% of Australians consider infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to be among the most important health-related topics covered in the news in 2022.

Baby Boomers — born approximately 1946 to 1964 — and the Silent Generation — born 1928 to 1945— were the most concerned about infectious disease prevention.

The snapshot of common attitudes to health and wellbeing suggested that 83% of Australians are keen to increase their knowledge and 61% have improving their general health as a goal.

The survey was conducted from 8 to 12 December 2022 and included 1075 Australians aged 18 years and over, and was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect latest ABS population estimates.

Pfizer expressed concern that 39% of Australians do not think that being up-to-date on immunisations is important, leaving them at greater risk of potential infections and diseases.

Dr Krishan Thiru, Pfizer Australia and New Zealand Medical Director, said it is encouraging to see so many Australians recognising the importance of health and disease prevention, together with the role individuals can play in protecting themselves and their loved ones.

“Infectious diseases continue to be part of our lives. We see that COVID-19 is showing no signs of disappearing from our communities, and the recent spikes in meningococcal and other transmissible infections demonstrate the need to continuously improve our understanding of diseases to protect ourselves,” Thiru said.

“It is so important for people to prioritise their health and know what tools they have to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Australians also revealed their preferences when it comes to accessing health-related information. According to the research findings, the majority of Australians obtain health information from general practitioners (59%) and medical specialists (44%), although more than 40% of Australians also rely on Internet search engines when seeking answers about their health.

There is also a notable difference in the way Australians living in capital cities and non-urban areas source health-related information. Those who live in non-urban areas are more likely to source health-related information from general practitioners (63% compared to 56%). Social media and mainstream media are additional sources of information, particularly for those living in urban areas.

“It can be tempting and so convenient to browse online to seek answers to health questions. But health decisions require the most up-to-date and accurate information, which is best obtained from reputable sources,” Thiru said.

Pfizer Australia recently launched a dedicated health info hub, Talking Your Health, where people can find credible, evidence-based information on many health conditions, delivered by Thiru.

“This initiative is intended to arm the public with relevant, evidence-based health information, and to empower them to engage with their clinicians about their own medical situation,” Thiru said.

Thiru said the research findings also reinforce the importance of health education, especially at a time when Australians are becoming more proactive about their health.

Image credit: iStock.com/fizkes