Little is known about the risk perceptions and attitudes of healthcare personnel, in the event of an epidemic of H1N1 influenza. It is acknowledged that perception of risks, as opposed to actual risks, alters behaviour. Indian data on KAP is needed as the scenario of working in limited resource environment, can have a different risk perception and attitudes amongst the healthcare workers. This will help in chalking out a ‘model response planning’ The study is designed to investigate the Knowledge and attitudes amongst healthcare workers in Mumbai, India during H1N1 pandemic of 2008–2009.

Questionnaire based interviews were given to healthcare workers, selected by their place of work, level of education and income group. This is based on the priori hypothesis that KAP differs amongst these groups. Surveys were distributed randomly to 20% employees from each of the above categories. Also healthcare officials, making policy decisions and guidelines, and the patients approaching these healthcare centres for treatment were interviewed for their perceptions of adequacy of the response measures. The questions designed included assessment of demographic characteristics, individual's knowledge about swine flu, perceived adequacy of training, perception of preparedness to tackle the epidemic situation and perception of risk to them and their families during epidemic conditions. The responses were graded as ‘adequate or inadequate knowledge’, perceived ‘high or low risk’ and ‘tendency to apathy’. Results were analysed using statistical software (SPSS17).

Understanding the concerns and responses of healthcare personnel to a major infectious disease outbreak is critical to maintaining response capacity.