Attitudes to Pest Control Study. 2 »The study provides the consumer perspective of the...
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Transcript of Attitudes to Pest Control Study. 2 »The study provides the consumer perspective of the...
Attitudes to Pest Control Attitudes to Pest Control StudyStudy
Attitudes to Pest Control Attitudes to Pest Control StudyStudy
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
» The study provides the consumer perspective of the “market,” covering product use, related attitudes, knowledge of government regulation, and assessment of the proposal to prevent the sale and use of pest and weed control products.
» The research was conducted by telephone with a nationally representative sample of 600 homeowners (those in condo apartments excluded), April 19-25, 2001.
» The interview was completed with the individual who is responsible for decisions about pest and weed control.
» Each homeowner was asked three of four sections (minimum 450 interviews for each section): pests in home; pests in lawn/garden; pests in trees/shrubs; weeds.
BackgroundBackground
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Bottom Line / Three-Point BriefBottom Line / Three-Point Brief
» Canadian homeowners are of two minds about their use of pest and weed control products.
» They see merit in the products’ purpose and see the products as effective in accomplishing this purpose.
» They also see potential risks to using the products which centre on safety to humans and the environment.
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Advantages and Disadvantages of Advantages and Disadvantages of Relevant ProductsRelevant Products
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Product Advantages (Unaided)Product Advantages (Unaided)
37%
28%
12%
15%
11%
3%
14%
6%
4%
23%
Kills pests (net)
No advantages/don’t know
Kills pests/eliminates (unspec)
Kills/eliminates ants, rats, mice, etc.
Controls pests (net)
Controls pests/keeps them down
Controls spread of disease
Improves look of yard/better flowers and treesEasy to use/effective products/fast results
Sanitary/cleaner living
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Product Disadvantages (Unaided)Product Disadvantages (Unaided)
44%37%
16%30%
19%8%
5%19%
7%5%
4%3%3%
17%
Harmful/dangerous (net)
No disadvantages/don’t know
Harmful to animals/people/childrenProduct is toxic/poisonous
Environment (net)Not environmentally friendly/ environmental hazards
Pollution (unspec)
Water/air/soil pollution
Health related (net)
Health hazards/risks to children/ animals/people
Risk of cancer/asthma/allergies
Cost/expensive
Dislike the smell/bad odour
Health hazards/risks (unspec)
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Perceptions of Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease and Weed Control Plant Disease and Weed Control Product Advantages (Unaided)Product Advantages (Unaided)
26%
19%
8%
25%
16%
11%
14%
10%
6%
7%
4%
23%
Appearance of yard (net)
No advantages/don’t know
Improves look of yard/trees/flowers/grass
Healthier plants/trees/flowers
Kills (net)
Kills weeds/eliminates
Kills bugs/eliminates
Controls (net)
Controls weeds/stops spreading of weedsControls (plant) diseases/stop spreading of diseases
Easy to use/effective product/fast resultsHealthier crop/better yields
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease and Weed Control Product Disadvantages and Weed Control Product Disadvantages
(Unaided)(Unaided)39%
23%14%
5%37%
24%19%
24%12%
6%5%
4%3%
18%
Environment (net)
No disadvantages/don’t know
Not environmentally friendly/environmental hazardsWater/air/soil pollution
Pollution (unspec)
Harmful/dangerous (net)
Harmful to children/animals/people
Product is toxic/poisonous
Health related (net)Health hazards/risk to children/animals/peopleHealth hazards/risks (unspec)
Risk of cancer/asthma/allergies
Cost/too expensive
Kills/burns grass and plants
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Likely Response to SituationLikely Response to Situation
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Likely Response to SituationHomeowners’ Likely Response to Situation
45% 49% 42%28%
18% 13%19%
35%28% 29%
54%
10% 10%
9%
9%
Pests in Home Pests inLawn/ Garden
Pests inTrees/ Shrubs
Weeds
Purchase suitable product and use
Hire a professional
Try to eliminate or remove by hand
Take no action, ignore
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Use of Relevant Products and Professional Use of Relevant Products and Professional ServicesServices
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Use of Relevant Products in Past 2 Years Use of Relevant Products in Past 2 Years among Homeownersamong Homeowners
56%
48%
37%
51%
Pests in home
Weeds
Pests in lawn/garden
Pests in trees/shrubs
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Use of Professional Services in Past 2 Use of Professional Services in Past 2 Years among HomeownersYears among Homeowners
5%
14%
9%
18%
Pests in home
Weeds
Pests in lawn/garden
Pests in trees/shrubs
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Related AttitudesRelated Attitudes
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Agreement with Statements Homeowners’ Agreement with Statements About Pest and Weed ControlAbout Pest and Weed Control
Pests inHome
Pests inLawn/Garden
Pests inTrees/Shrubs Weeds
% % % %
Want to keep relevant areas free:Strongly agree 82 48 53 49Total agree 97 83 85 81
Expect to be able to buy if necessary:Strongly agree 62 52 47 50Total agree 90 86 83 79
Instructions are clear and easy to understand:Strongly agree 40 36 30 40Total agree 82 80 71 79
Instructions are read and followed:Strongly agree 78 73 69 69Total agree 89 88 83 82
Pests inHome
Pests inLawn/Garden
Pests inTrees/Shrubs Weeds
% % % %
Want to keep relevant areas free:Strongly agree 82 48 53 49Total agree 97 83 85 81
Expect to be able to buy if necessary:Strongly agree 62 52 47 50Total agree 90 86 83 79
Instructions are clear and easy to understand:Strongly agree 40 36 30 40Total agree 82 80 71 79
Instructions are read and followed:Strongly agree 78 73 69 69Total agree 89 88 83 82
Scale used: Strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
79%70% 69% 66%
18% 25% 26% 30%
5%5%4%
Pests in Home Pests inLawn/ Garden
Pests inTrees/ Shrubs
Weeds
Necessary, safe if used properly
Neutral/neitherHazardous, unnecessary
Overall Opinion among Homeowners on Overall Opinion among Homeowners on the Usethe Use
of Relevant Productsof Relevant Products
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Preference for Product AvailabilityPreference for Product Availability
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
56%46% 39%
52%
36%44%
46%
10% 15% 12%
36%
8%
Pests in Home Pests inLawn/ Garden
Pests inTrees/ Shrubs
Weeds
Available for purchase on the shelves
Available behind the counter on request
Not available at all
Homeowners’ Preference for Availability of Homeowners’ Preference for Availability of Relevant Products at Retail StoresRelevant Products at Retail Stores
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Perceptions of Government RegulationPerceptions of Government Regulation
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Homeowners’ Perceptions of the Level and Homeowners’ Perceptions of the Level and Adequacy of Government RegulationAdequacy of Government Regulation
Pests inHome
Pests inLawn/Garden
Pests inTrees/Shrubs Weeds
% % % %
Regulated by Federal Government:Yes, for sure 26 34 30 32Probably, would assume so 47 43 46 42No, not regulated 16 13 13 16Don’t know 11 10 11 10
Existing Level of Regulation:More than adequate 8 8 8 11Adequate 63 62 55 57Less than adequate 24 26 32 29Don’t know 5 4 5 4
Pests inHome
Pests inLawn/Garden
Pests inTrees/Shrubs Weeds
% % % %
Regulated by Federal Government:Yes, for sure 26 34 30 32Probably, would assume so 47 43 46 42No, not regulated 16 13 13 16Don’t know 11 10 11 10
Existing Level of Regulation:More than adequate 8 8 8 11Adequate 63 62 55 57Less than adequate 24 26 32 29Don’t know 5 4 5 4
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
10%17% 17% 22%
16%
21% 23% 20%
26%
30% 28% 28%
45%27% 28% 27%
4%5%
Pests in Home Pests inLawn/ Garden
Pests inTrees/ Shrubs
Weeds
Strongly support
Neutral
Somewhat oppose
Support or Oppose Prohibiting Sale and Support or Oppose Prohibiting Sale and Use of Pest and Weed Control Products Use of Pest and Weed Control Products
Somewhat support
Strongly oppose
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Conclusions / Key FindingsConclusions / Key Findings
» Canadian homeowners are of two minds about their use of pest and weed control products.
» They see merit in the products’ purpose and see the products as effective in accomplishing this purpose, which is both to control pests, plant diseases and weeds, and to enable homeowners to do so themselves. Another benefit is that these products further the pride homeowners take in their gardening efforts (and home).
» On the other hand, homeowners also see disadvantages or potential risks to using these products. These perceived drawbacks include the products’ toxicity to humans and animals, and adverse environmental impact.
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Conclusions / Key FindingsConclusions / Key Findings
» Homeowners are likely to take action when faced with a pest, plant disease or weed situation (virtually all if they find pests in the home and 90% for the other situations).
» Many see suitable products as the best approach. Purchasing a suitable product for do-it-yourself use is the most common first response to three of the four situations, while hiring a professional is the least likely reaction – aside from ignoring the issue – to all four.
» Overall...homeowners acknowledge both benefits and drawbacks to these products, but are likely to use them when needed. This suggests they are considering the pros and cons, and consciously making the trade-off in favour of product use.
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Attitudes to Pest Control Study
Conclusions / Key FindingsConclusions / Key Findings
» With regard to access, homeowners clearly want to have the products available at retail (82%-85%). Access preferences are correlated with use of the products; users are more often in favour of shelf access while non-users are more likely to favour behind-the-counter access.
» Most (73%-77%) either know these products to be regulated by the Federal government or feel confident in assuming such regulation exists. Most (63%-71%) also see the existing level of regulation as either adequate or more than adequate.
» Homeowners are likely to have an opinion on the Federal government prohibiting the sale of these products (i.e., very few are neutral or undecided on the matter). Opposition to this proposal outweighs support for each of the four product categories, and is particularly strong for in-home pest control products.