Around the Schools: Harvard School of Public Health

The Harvard School of Public Health has been taking the public’s temperature lately on health topics, including swine flu and health care reform. The most recent survey, released Sept. 28, checked the public’s opinion on the Massachusetts 2006 health care reform law, finding that a majority, 59 percent, approved of the law. That total is less, though, than the 69 percent that approved of it last year.

The survey is just the latest conducted by researchers at the School, together with various partners. Earlier this month, the School found that 80 percent of businesses foresee severe problems keeping their operations going if there’s a significant H1N1, or swine flu, outbreak that keeps half their employees at home.

Prior to that, a July survey found that six in 10 Americans believed there would be a significant outbreak of H1N1 this fall, while a May survey found that many Americans had taken steps to protect themselves against the ailment.

The current survey, conducted with the Boston Globe, asked 506 randomly selected Massachusetts residents ages 18 or older their opinions about the Massachusetts health care reform law, which was designed to provide coverage for nearly all state residents. It found that, despite the economic recession, the vast majority favored continuing the law: 57 percent with some changes and 22 percent as is.

The poll was conducted by telephone between Sept. 14 and 16. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percent.