To document clinical characteristics of influenza-like illness, reported use of health preventive measures and attitudes towards vaccination among patients with influenza-like illness in general practice during the influenza pandemic in 2009.
Cross-sectional survey in general practice. Patients, who were identified as having influenza-like illness during the peak of the influenza pandemic activity in Norway, were eligible for inclusion in the study. A questionnaire was sent 2-4 weeks after the patients visit to the GP with influenza-like illness diagnosis during October to December 2009, from general practices in Norway. A sample of responders >18 years also had a blood test to check for serological response to the pandemic H1N1 virus.
Questionnaires were sent to 1324 patients, and 357 (27%) were returned. Fever (91% versus 49%, P