1
|
Timlin U, Rautio A. Communicating and complying with COVID-19 actions in northernmost Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2313822. [PMID: 38351741 PMCID: PMC10868415 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2313822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In Finland, national and local restrictions were implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic after the increase of cases, and it changed the everyday life of people. The purpose of our study was to explore public health communication and compliance related to the COVID-19 public health instructions, recommendations, and restrictions in two municipalities in Northernmost Finland, Inari and Utsjoki. We interviewed the representatives and operators working in the municipalities to understand and learn about their experiences. Results suggested that residents complied with different COVID-19 actions, and overall, communication was found to be good. Altogether, guidelines were easy to follow but required the individual's own activity. Guidelines were also published in Sámi language. National border restrictions were a challenging part of communication and information, and guidelines were found to be contradictory at times. National border actions required resources from the municipalities, e.g. testing, which caused more demands on municipalities operating with already low resources. In the future, it is essential to consider the local situation of the pandemic and harmonise actions and put effort on local cooperation. It is important to invest in clear communication, which reaches people of all ages, and in three Sámi languages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulla Timlin
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Domaradzki J, Jabkowski P, Walkowiak D. Investigating Beliefs in Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theories among Medical Students. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:359. [PMID: 38675741 PMCID: PMC11054095 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While the doctors' role in immunization is essential, their lack of knowledge or vaccine hesitancy may affect their ability to communicate effectively and educate patients about vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine conspiracy theories. This, in turn, may hinder health policy aimed at fighting infectious diseases. Vaccine hesitancy is prevalent not only among the general population but also among healthcare workers; thus, this study is aimed at assessing future doctors' attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories. A total of 441 medical students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences completed a web-based survey designed to explore their attitudes toward the six most prevalent anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. The survey showed that although over 97% of future doctors support vaccinations as an effective form of fighting infectious diseases, and 80% did not believe in any anti-vax conspiracy theory, a significant fraction of 20% of medical students either believed in at least one such theory or were unsure. It has also shown that male and younger students who had not received a flu vaccination and defined themselves as politically right-wing or conservative and religious were more likely to believe in anti-vax conspiracy theories. Our data suggest that, in order to overcome medical students' ambivalent attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories, they should receive more education about the importance of vaccination in preventing disease and about effective ways to combat vaccine hesitancy and anti-vax conspiracy theories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Domaradzki
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 7, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Jabkowski
- Faculty of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 60-568 Poznań, Poland
| | - Dariusz Walkowiak
- Department of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-356 Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nawyn SJ, Karaoğlu E, Qaji N, Qaji N. Covid-19 skepticism and public health norms during refugee assistance: does skepticism always lead to poor safety protocol adherence? BMC Public Health 2024; 24:881. [PMID: 38515104 PMCID: PMC10958884 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18232-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skepticism about COVID-19's existence or severity has spread as fast as the disease itself, and in some populations has been shown to undermine protective public health behaviors that can mitigate infection. For populations that are especially vulnerable to COVID spread and severity, such as refugees, COVID skepticism is particularly problematic. METHODS We examine data collected from observations of humanitarian services provided to refugees in Lebanon, Türkiye, and Jordan to determine if skepticism is related to adherence to specific health-protective protocols (masking, social distancing, and hand sanitizing), and whether the effects of COVID skepticism are mediated by particular populations of refugees or the country in which those refugees receive assistance. RESULTS We found that community skepticism (the frequency of COVID skepticism expressed by others within a service location) is associated with lower adherence to certain protocols and not others. We also found that with certain protocols, the country in which refugees receive services mediates the relationship between community skepticism and protocol adherence, but for other protocols the relationship between skepticism and adherence is independent of either country in which refugees reside or the refugee population being served. CONCLUSIONS The existence of skepticism about COVID-19 does not always lead to an unwillingness to take protective measures to avoid infection. The mechanisms underlying the relationship between skepticism and adherence to health-protective protocols vary based on the type of protocol in question. In order to increase protocol adherence, the specific variables predicting adherence to different protocols need to be assessed in order to increase adherence and improve public health during humanitarian services.
Collapse
|
4
|
Lan Y, Jin L. Heritage and hesitancy: how preference for traditional Chinese medicine influences vaccine attitudes. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1355720. [PMID: 38566787 PMCID: PMC10985209 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1355720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vaccine hesitancy, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a pressing public health challenge. This study investigates the association between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preference and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within China. Methods The study uses data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) (N = 2,690). Logistic regressions and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method are employed to analyzed the relationship between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy. Results The study reaffirms prior findings by revealing a robust and stable association between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy, which remains unaffected by socioeconomic and demographic confounders, as well as institutional trust dynamics of healthcare system. Contrary to expectations, TCM enthusiasts do not exhibit vaccine hesitancy based on divergent epistemological views concerning vaccine risks and immunity acquisition compared to biomedicine. Discussion This research enriches understandings of the intricate relations between healthcare paradigms and vaccine attitudes, inviting further inquiry into the role of CAM in shaping vaccination behaviors across different cultures and contexts. The insights bear significant public health implications for enhancing vaccine acceptance and coverage, particularly among populations where CAM practices wield substantial influence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Lan
- Department of Social Work, School of Sociology and Political Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lei Jin
- Faculty of Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Region, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Skafida V, Heins E. Trust in COVID-19 information sources and vaccination status: Exploring social inequalities and differences within the four United Kingdom nations using a representative survey. J Health Serv Res Policy 2024:13558196241227749. [PMID: 38314687 DOI: 10.1177/13558196241227749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore how the use of, and trust in, different sources of advice and information on COVID-19 differed across the four UK nations and between different sociodemographic groups and their associations with COVID-19 vaccination status. METHODS We used a UK-wide representative survey conducted in July 2021, which included data on uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, trust in information sources, use of sources and geographical and sociodemographic variables. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with completed or planned COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS Trust in the NHS, followed by trust in scientists, were the strongest predictors of vaccination intention. NHS websites were the most used (56% across the UK); only the Scottish government website had a higher level of reported use (58%). Using either source was associated with a positive vaccination status as were use of the GP and television as sources of advice. Use of social media, family and friends, and 'none' of the sources enquired about, were all linked to a lower likelihood of being or intending to get vaccinated. Compared to those in England, respondents in other UK nations were less likely to trust the central UK government for advice on COVID-19. There was considerable variation by age in trust and use of some, but not all, sources of advice, with predicted probabilities ranging from 35% among the youngest age group to 62% among those aged 65 years or older. There were also significant differences by annual household income and by occupational class for trust in government, with higher incomes correlating with greater likelihood of trust. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates high levels of trust in the key sources of public health advice and there was a positive association between using official sources of advice and vaccination intentions, even in the context of overall high vaccination rates. Our findings highlight the need for the UK and devolved governments to value the importance of public trust in the health system and take appropriate measures to avoid undermining such trust.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Skafida
- Social Policy, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elke Heins
- Social Policy, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Volek J, Moravec V. Undermining support for COVID-19 public health policies: an analysis of the impact of subversive conspiracy narratives on Czech General Practitioners. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:69-74. [PMID: 37930080 PMCID: PMC10843947 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited knowledge exists regarding the impact of COVID-19 conspiracy theories on the professional practice of general practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to identify the basic characteristics of GPs who endorse COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and compare their level of support for COVID-19 health policies with GPs who do not believe in conspiracies. METHODS Between January and February 2021, a representative online survey was conducted among 1163 GPs in the Czech Republic. The sample was designed to be representative of members of The Association of GPs of the Czech Republic. RESULTS The survey revealed that nearly 14% of the GPs surveyed believed in one or more COVID-19 conspiracies. The average age of GPs who endorsed conspiracies was 58, which was higher than the rest of the sample (average age of 50). GPs who believed in conspiracies were less likely to support COVID-19 public health policies and therapy recommendations, including vaccination. Logistic and linear regression analyses indicated that doctors who believed in conspiracies were 2.62 times less likely to have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Mediation analysis showed that approximately one-quarter (23.21%) of the total effect of trust in government information on support for public health policies was indirectly mediated by the endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. CONCLUSIONS The study findings suggest a concerning association between belief in COVID-19 conspiracies and a reduced level of support for public health policies among GPs. These results underscore the importance of incorporating the 'conspiracy agenda' into medical authorities' more effective public health communication strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Václav Moravec
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wojczewski S, Leitner KM, Hoffmann K, Kutalek R, Jirovsky-Platter E. Vaccine hesitancy among physicians: a qualitative study with general practitioners and paediatricians in Austria and Germany. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077411. [PMID: 38262649 PMCID: PMC10806645 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to understand reasons for vaccine hesitancy (VH) among general practioners (GPs) and paediatricians. We aim to analyse how and when the healthcare workers (HCWs) developed vaccine-hesitant views and how they transfer these to patients. DESIGN AND SETTING Semistructured interviews with vaccine-hesitant GPs and paediatricians were conducted in Austria and Germany using an explorative qualitative research design. PARTICIPANTS We contacted 41 physicians through letters and emails and 10 agreed to participate, five were male and five female. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Ten interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and anonymised. The material was analysed inductively following a grounded theory approach with open coding using the software atlas.ti. RESULTS Key themes that were identified were education and career path, understanding of medicine and medical profession, experiences with vaccines, doctor-patient interactions and continuous education activities and the link to VH. GPs and paediatricians' vaccine-hesitant attitudes developed during their medical training and, in particular, during extracurricular training in homeopathy, which most of the participants completed. Most participants work in private practices rather than with contracts with social insurance because they are not satisfied with the health system. Furthermore, they are critical of biomedicine. Most of the interview partners do not consider themselves antivaccination, but are sceptical towards vaccines and especially point out the side effects. Most do not vaccinate in their practices and some do only occasionally. Their vaccine-hesitant views are often fostered through respective online communities of vaccine-hesitant HCWs. CONCLUSIONS More studies on a connection between complementary medicine and vaccine-hesitant views of HCWs are needed. Education about vaccines and infectious diseases among healthworkers must increase especially tailored towards the use of internet and social media. Physicians should be made aware that through time and empathy towards their patients they could have a positive impact on undecided patients and parents regarding vaccine decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Wojczewski
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Kathryn Hoffmann
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruth Kutalek
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Jirovsky-Platter
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fountoulakis KN, Alias NA, Bjedov S, Fountoulakis NK, Gonda X, Hilbig J, Jakovljević M, Kulig B, Mahale G, Manafis A, Mohammed M, Nadareishvili I, Navickas A, Patsali ME, Pavlichenko A, Pilaga SM, Razali S, Romanov D, Rossitza I, Salihu AS, Sinauridze A, Stoyanova M, Thosar K, Vorobjova J, Vrublevska J, Rancans E, Javed A, Theodorakis PN, Breda J, Smirnova D. Students' mental health during the pandemic: results of the observational cross-sectional COVID-19 MEntal health inTernational for university Students (COMET-S) study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1320156. [PMID: 38293595 PMCID: PMC10825874 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1320156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of the study was to search rates of depression and mental health in university students, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods This is an observational cross-sectional study. A protocol gathering sociodemographic variables as well as depression, anxiety and suicidality and conspiracism was assembled, and data were collected anonymously and online from April 2020 through March 2021. The sample included 12,488 subjects from 11 countries, of whom 9,026 were females (72.2%; aged 21.11 ± 2.53), 3,329 males (26.65%; aged 21.61 ± 2.81) and 133 "non-binary gender" (1.06%; aged 21.02 ± 2.98). The analysis included chi-square tests, correlation analysis, ANCOVA, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analysis and Relative Risk ratios. Results Dysphoria was present in 15.66% and probable depression in 25.81% of the total study sample. More than half reported increase in anxiety and depression and 6.34% in suicidality, while lifestyle changes were significant. The model developed explained 18.4% of the development of depression. Believing in conspiracy theories manifested a complex effect. Close to 25% was believing that the vaccines include a chip and almost 40% suggested that facemask wearing could be a method of socio-political control. Conspiracism was related to current depression but not to history of mental disorders. Discussion The current study reports that students are at high risk for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified specific risk factors. It also suggested a role of believing in conspiracy theories. Further research is important, as it is targeted intervention in students' groups that are vulnerable both concerning mental health and conspiracism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis
- 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece
- WHO Collaboration Center for Quality in Mental Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nor Aziah Alias
- Academic Affairs Division, Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sarah Bjedov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jan Hilbig
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Barbara Kulig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Girija Mahale
- Symbiosis Centre for Emotional Wellbeing, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, India
| | - Alexandros Manafis
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Muftau Mohammed
- Department of Mental Health, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Alvydas Navickas
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mikaella E. Patsali
- School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alexey Pavlichenko
- Education Center, Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 n.a. N.A. Alexeev of Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Salmi Razali
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Dmitry Romanov
- Department of Psychiatry, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
| | - Iakimova Rossitza
- Second Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Saint Naum”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Auwal Sani Salihu
- Department of Psychiatry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Ana Sinauridze
- Georgian Medical Students' Association, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Maria Stoyanova
- Second Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Saint Naum”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ketaki Thosar
- Symbiosis Centre for Emotional Wellbeing, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, India
| | | | - Jelena Vrublevska
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Institute of Public Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga, Latvia
| | - Elmars Rancans
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga, Latvia
| | - Afzal Javed
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Joao Breda
- WHO Athens Quality of Care Office, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daria Smirnova
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Darnell WH, Daugherty CD, Hart ZP, Lambert South A. Exploring First Responder Beliefs and Decisions to Vaccinate Against SARS-COV-2. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:3316-3325. [PMID: 36636017 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2149065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As frontline providers, first responders are not always thought of as patients with unique health beliefs. During early and continued distribution, many first responders in the United States chose to refuse vaccination. Guided by the health belief model and emerging research related to SARS-COV-2, the aim of this study was to further explore the complex message conditions that contributed to first responders' early vaccination decisions. An online survey was conducted between March 1 and March 31 2021, among first responders in the state of Kentucky, which has lagged behind most states in the percentage of the population who are fully vaccinated. The first responder sample included Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and paramedics who completed a Qualtrics survey that included measures aimed at assessing health beliefs about SARS-COV-2, beliefs about SARS-COV-2 vaccines, source trustworthiness, and vaccine motivation. First responders were also asked to rank the importance of various information sources about SARS-COV-2 and its vaccines. Findings suggest significant differences exist among first responders who have chosen to receive SARS-COV-2 vaccines and those who have refused, including source preference, conspiracy beliefs, and perceived risk. Future directions, including the exploration of institutional mistrust as a health belief are discussed. These findings offer practical insights that may improve continuing approaches to discover and use preferred communication sources to reach the vaccine-hesitant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zachary P Hart
- Department of Communication, Northern Kentucky University
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jabkowski P, Domaradzki J, Baranowski M. Exploring COVID-19 conspiracy theories: education, religiosity, trust in scientists, and political orientation in 26 European countries. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18116. [PMID: 37872233 PMCID: PMC10593806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44752-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 virus disseminated globally at an accelerated pace, culminating in a worldwide pandemic; it engendered a proliferation of spurious information and a plethora of misinformation and conspiracy theories (CTs). While many factors contributing to the propensity for embracing conspiracy ideation have been delineated, the foremost determinant influencing individuals' proclivity towards CT endorsement appears to be their level of educational attainment. This research aimed to assess the moderating effect of religiosity, trust in scientists, and political orientation on the impact of education level on people's belief in COVID-19-related CTs in Europe by considering both individual-level and country-level contextual covariates of CT. We analysed data from the newest European Social Survey (ESS10) round conducted between September 2020 and September 2022 in 26 countries. We found religiosity weakens, and trust in scientists strengthens the effect of education, while the impact of political orientation is not straightforward. The result also demonstrates a significant negative correlation between the aggregate country-level data of the respondents supporting CTs and the level of vaccination and cumulative excess deaths in Europe. We concluded with a recommendation that planning effective public health strategies and campaigns are insufficient when based solely on people's education, as individuals' beliefs moderate the effect of education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Jabkowski
- Faculty of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Szamarzewkiego 89C, 60-568, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Jan Domaradzki
- Laboratory of Health Sociology and Social Pathology, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Baranowski
- Faculty of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Szamarzewkiego 89C, 60-568, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mousoulidou M, Siakalli M, Christodoulou A, Argyrides M. Conspiracy Theories, Trust in Science, and Knowledge during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cyprus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6710. [PMID: 37681850 PMCID: PMC10487943 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Conspiracy theories flourish during periods of crisis. One way to counteract the believability of conspiracy theories is trust in science and knowledge about the "perceived threat", such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 363 adults from Cyprus were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling methods. The data were collected via an internet-based questionnaire that examined participants' belief in 17 conspiracy theory statements, trust in science and scientists, knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, phobic anxiety, hostility, somatization, and personality traits based on the Big Five. The results suggest (a) the overall belief in conspiracy theories in Cyprus is low, even though a notable percentage holds a neutral stance towards these theories; (b) trust in science and knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is negatively related to conspiracy theories, indicating the importance of trusting science and having knowledge as a means to counteract conspiracy theories; (c) young adults, those residing in rural areas, and those with a low education level are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories; (d) there are no significant associations between conspiracy theories and the psychological dimensions of phobic anxiety, hostility, and somatization; (e) there is difficulty in identifying specific traits related to conspiracy ideation. Public health officials could benefit from the findings when communicating information during periods of crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Mousoulidou
- Department of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8042, Cyprus; (M.S.); (A.C.); (M.A.)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Badanta B, García MA, Jiménez ÁE, Lucchetti G, de Diego-Cordero R. The use of complementary and traditional medicine for the treatment of patients with COVID-19: A systematic review. Explore (NY) 2023; 19:646-662. [PMID: 36828766 PMCID: PMC9941070 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the use and effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies as part of the treatment of COVID-19 and its complications, either combined or not with the usual treatment. METHODS A systematic review was conducted between August and October 2021 using PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. From a total of 204 articles identified, 33 were included in the final sample (15 clinical trials and 18 quasi-experimental studies). The methodological evaluation was carried out using STROBE and CONSORT guidelines. RESULTS There is a growing literature on the use of CAM for COVID-19. Most studies have shown positive findings, particularly for the use of TCM, other herbal therapies and acupuncture. Nevertheless, most studies were carried out in Asia and relied on quasi-experimental designs. The current evidence is available for physical outcomes (mortality rate, pneumonia resolution and other symptoms, negative PCR test, and hospitalization and ICU admissions) and for mental health outcomes. CONCLUSION Despite a positive role of CAM on COVID-19 outcomes, the evidence is still mostly based on quasi-experimental studies. More robust clinical trials are needed in order to generate better evidence in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Badanta
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry, University of Sevilla, C/Avenzoar, 6, Spain
| | - Marta Alonso García
- Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Giancarlo Lucchetti
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Rocío de Diego-Cordero
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry, University of Sevilla, C/Avenzoar, 6, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stojanov A, Hannawa A. Validating a German Version of the Conspiracy Mentality Scale (CMS). J Pers Assess 2023; 105:691-701. [PMID: 36507630 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2149408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Increased scientific interest in conspiracy beliefs raises the need for validated individual difference measures in the general tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, otherwise referred to as conspiracy mentality. In this article, we present a German language version of the Conspiracy Mentality Scale (CMS). A representative sample of German-speaking Swiss residents (N = 468) filled in the scale, along with measures of trust in several sources of information, need for social validation, compliance with Covid-19 preventive measures, perceived severity of the pandemic, loneliness, functional literacy and interpersonal conflict. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-dimensional structure of the original scale. Positive correlations between conspiracy theory ideation and trust in friends and the need for social validation on the one hand, and negative correlations with trust in scientific publications and scientific experts, perceived severity of the pandemic and functional literacy on the other hand supported construct validity. We conclude that our German language version of the scale is a valid measure of conspiracy theory ideation and skepticism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Stojanov
- Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Annegret Hannawa
- Faculty of Communication, Culture & Society, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fasce A, Schmid P, Holford DL, Bates L, Gurevych I, Lewandowsky S. A taxonomy of anti-vaccination arguments from a systematic literature review and text modelling. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:1462-1480. [PMID: 37460761 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The proliferation of anti-vaccination arguments is a threat to the success of many immunization programmes. Effective rebuttal of contrarian arguments requires an approach that goes beyond addressing flaws in the arguments, by also considering the attitude roots-that is, the underlying psychological attributes driving a person's belief-of opposition to vaccines. Here, through a pre-registered systematic literature review of 152 scientific articles and thematic analysis of anti-vaccination arguments, we developed a hierarchical taxonomy that relates common arguments and themes to 11 attitude roots that explain why an individual might express opposition to vaccination. We further validated our taxonomy on coronavirus disease 2019 anti-vaccination misinformation, through a combination of human coding and machine learning using natural language processing algorithms. Overall, the taxonomy serves as a theoretical framework to link expressed opposition of vaccines to their underlying psychological processes. This enables future work to develop targeted rebuttals and other interventions that address the underlying motives of anti-vaccination arguments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Fasce
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Philipp Schmid
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
- Department of Implementation Research, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dawn L Holford
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Luke Bates
- Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab/Department of Computer Science and Hessian Center for AI (hessian.AI), Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Iryna Gurevych
- Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab/Department of Computer Science and Hessian Center for AI (hessian.AI), Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephan Lewandowsky
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
N. Fountoulakis K, N. Karakatsoulis G, Abraham S, Adorjan K, Ahmed HU, Alarcón RD, Arai K, Auwal SS, Bobes J, Bobes-Bascaran T, Bourgin-Duchesnay J, Bredicean CA, Bukelskis L, Burkadze A, Cabrera Abud II, Castilla-Puentes R, Cetkovich M, Colon-Rivera H, Corral R, Cortez-Vergara C, Crepin P, de Berardis D, Zamora Delgado S, de Lucena D, de Sousa A, di Stefano R, Dodd S, Elek LP, Elissa A, Erdelyi-Hamza B, Erzin G, Etchevers MJ, Falkai P, Farcas A, Fedotov I, Filatova V, Fountoulakis NK, Frankova I, Franza F, Frias P, Galako T, Garay CJ, Garcia-Álvarez L, García-Portilla P, Gonda X, Gondek TM, Morera González D, Gould H, Grandinetti P, Grau A, Groudeva V, Hagin M, Harada T, Hasan TM, Azreen Hashim N, Hilbig J, Hossain S, Iakimova R, Ibrahim M, Iftene F, Ignatenko Y, Irarrazaval M, Ismail Z, Ismayilova J, Jacobs A, Jakovljević M, Jakšić N, Javed A, Yilmaz Kafali H, Karia S, Kazakova O, Khalifa D, Khaustova O, Koh S, Kopishinskaia S, Kosenko K, Koupidis SA, Kovacs I, Kulig B, Lalljee A, Liewig J, Majid A, Malashonkova E, Malik K, Iqbal Malik N, Mammadzada G, Mandalia B, Marazziti D, Marčinko D, Martinez S, Matiekus E, Mejia G, Memon RS, Meza Martínez XE, Mickevičiūtė D, Milev R, Mohammed M, Molina-López A, Morozov P, Muhammad NS, Mustač F, Naor MS, Nassieb A, Navickas A, Okasha T, Pandova M, Panfil AL, Panteleeva L, Papava I, Patsali ME, Pavlichenko A, Pejuskovic B, Pinto da Costa M, Popkov M, Popovic D, Raduan NJN, Vargas Ramírez F, Rancans E, Razali S, Rebok F, Rewekant A, Reyes Flores EN, Rivera-Encinas MT, Saiz PA, Sánchez de Carmona M, Saucedo Martínez D, Saw JA, Saygili G, Schneidereit P, Shah B, Shirasaka T, Silagadze K, Sitanggang S, Skugarevsky O, Spikina A, Mahalingappa SS, Stoyanova M, Szczegielniak A, Tamasan SC, Tavormina G, Tavormina MGM, Theodorakis PN, Tohen M, Tsapakis EM, Tukhvatullina D, Ullah I, Vaidya R, Vega-Dienstmaier JM, Vrublevska J, Vukovic O, Vysotska O, Widiasih N, Yashikhina A, Prezerakos PE, Berk M, Levaj S, Smirnova D. Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the health professionals (COMET-HP) study: depression, suicidal tendencies and conspiracism. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023; 58:1387-1410. [PMID: 36867224 PMCID: PMC9982799 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02438-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The current study aimed to investigate the rates of anxiety, clinical depression, and suicidality and their changes in health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data came from the larger COMET-G study. The study sample includes 12,792 health professionals from 40 countries (62.40% women aged 39.76 ± 11.70; 36.81% men aged 35.91 ± 11.00 and 0.78% non-binary gender aged 35.15 ± 13.03). Distress and clinical depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm, respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses, and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. RESULTS Clinical depression was detected in 13.16% with male doctors and 'non-binary genders' having the lowest rates (7.89 and 5.88% respectively) and 'non-binary gender' nurses and administrative staff had the highest (37.50%); distress was present in 15.19%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics, and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (24.64% vs. 9.62%; p < 0.0001). Suicidal tendencies were at least doubled in terms of RASS scores. Approximately one-third of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop clinical depression was associated with a history of Bipolar disorder (RR = 4.23). CONCLUSIONS The current study reported findings in health care professionals similar in magnitude and quality to those reported earlier in the general population although rates of clinical depression, suicidal tendencies, and adherence to conspiracy theories were much lower. However, the general model of factors interplay seems to be the same and this could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis
- 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Grigorios N. Karakatsoulis
- 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Seri Abraham
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
- Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Core Psychiatry Training, Health Education England North West, Manchester, UK
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludiwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Helal Uddin Ahmed
- Child Adolescent and Family Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Renato D. Alarcón
- Section of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Lima, Peru
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Kiyomi Arai
- School of Medicine and Health Science, Institute of Health Science Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Sani Salihu Auwal
- Department of Psychiatry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Julio Bobes
- Psychiatry Area, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Teresa Bobes-Bascaran
- Mental Health Center of La Corredoria, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Julie Bourgin-Duchesnay
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Groupe Hospitalier Nord Essonne, Orsay, France
| | - Cristina Ana Bredicean
- Department of Neuroscience, Discipline of Psychiatry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Laurynas Bukelskis
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Akaki Burkadze
- Mental Hub, Tbilisi, Georgia
- NGO Healthcare Research and Quality Agency, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - Ruby Castilla-Puentes
- Janssen Research and Development, Johnson and Johnson, American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry and WARMI Women Mental Health, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Marcelo Cetkovich
- Institute of Translational and Cognitive Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hector Colon-Rivera
- APM Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Neurology, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine, UPMC, DDAP, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ricardo Corral
- Department of Teaching and Research, Hospital Borda, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Piirika Crepin
- Sanitaire and Social Union for Accompaniment and Prevention, Center of Ambulatory Psychiatry of Narbonne and Lezigan, Narbonne, France
| | - Domenico de Berardis
- Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini”, ASL Teramo, Teramo, Italy
- School of Nursing, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, School of Psychiatry, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Sergio Zamora Delgado
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | - David de Lucena
- Departamento de Fisiología E Farmacología, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará Brazil
| | - Avinash de Sousa
- Department of Psychiatry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai, India
- Desousa Foundation, Mumbai, India
| | - Ramona di Stefano
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Seetal Dodd
- IMPACT–the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
- Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- University Hospital Geelong, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC Australia
| | - Livia Priyanka Elek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Elissa
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Berta Erdelyi-Hamza
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gamze Erzin
- Psychiatry Department, Ankara Dışkapı Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Martin J. Etchevers
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludiwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Adriana Farcas
- Centre of Neuroscience, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON Canada
| | - Ilya Fedotov
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Ryazan State Medical University N.a. Academician I.P. Pavlov, Ryazan, Russia
| | - Viktoriia Filatova
- State Budgetary Institution of the Rostov Region “Psychoneurological Dispensary”, Rostov-On-Don, Russia
| | | | - Iryna Frankova
- Medical Psychology, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Department, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Francesco Franza
- Villa Dei Pini Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, Avellino, Italy
- Psychiatric Studies Centre, Provaglio d’Iseo, Italy
| | | | - Tatiana Galako
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Psychology and Drug Abuse, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
| | - Cristian J. Garay
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Paz García-Portilla
- Psychiatry Area, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
- Mental Health Center of La Ería, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tomasz M. Gondek
- Specialty Training Section, Polish Psychiatric Association, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Hilary Gould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Paolo Grandinetti
- Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini”, ASL Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Arturo Grau
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Violeta Groudeva
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Hospital Saint Ekaterina, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Michal Hagin
- Forensic Psychiatry Unit, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat Yam, Israel
| | - Takayuki Harada
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Education Bureau of the Laboratory Schools, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tasdik M. Hasan
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Public Health Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nurul Azreen Hashim
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jan Hilbig
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Sahadat Hossain
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rossitza Iakimova
- Second Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Saint Naum”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mona Ibrahim
- Faculty of Medicine, Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Felicia Iftene
- Department of Psychiatry, Queens University, Kingston, ON Canada
| | - Yulia Ignatenko
- Mental Health Clinic No 1 N.a. N.A. Alexeev of Moscow Healthcare Department, Education Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matias Irarrazaval
- Ministry of Health, Millenium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zaliha Ismail
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jamila Ismayilova
- National Mental Health Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Asaf Jacobs
- Department of Psychiatry, Westchester Medical Center Health System, Valhalla, NY USA
- New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY USA
| | | | - Nenad Jakšić
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Afzal Javed
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Sagar Karia
- Department of Psychiatry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai, India
| | | | - Doaa Khalifa
- Faculty of Medicine, Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Olena Khaustova
- Medical Psychology, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Department, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Steve Koh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Svetlana Kopishinskaia
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry (ICERN), Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
- Kirov State Medical University, Kirov, Russia
| | - Korneliia Kosenko
- Drug Abuse and Psychology Department, Odessa National Medical University, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Sotirios A. Koupidis
- Occupational and Environmental Health Sector, Public Health Policy Department, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Illes Kovacs
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barbara Kulig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Justine Liewig
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Groupe Hospitalier Nord Essonne, Orsay, France
| | - Abdul Majid
- Department of Psychiatry, SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar, India
| | - Evgeniia Malashonkova
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Groupe Hospitalier Nord Essonne, Orsay, France
| | - Khamelia Malik
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Najma Iqbal Malik
- Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Gulay Mammadzada
- Department of Psychiatry, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | | | - Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Unicamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
- Brain Research Foundation Onus, Lucca, Italy
| | - Darko Marčinko
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stephanie Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Eimantas Matiekus
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gabriela Mejia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Roha Saeed Memon
- Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Roumen Milev
- Department of Psychiatry, Queens University, Kingston, ON Canada
| | - Muftau Mohammed
- Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Alejandro Molina-López
- General Office for the Psychiatric Services of the Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Petr Morozov
- Department of Postgraduate Education, Russian National Research Medical University N.a. N.I. Pirogov, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nuru Suleiman Muhammad
- Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Filip Mustač
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mika S. Naor
- Sackler School of Medicine New York State American Program, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Amira Nassieb
- Faculty of Medicine, Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Alvydas Navickas
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Tarek Okasha
- Faculty of Medicine, Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Milena Pandova
- Second Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Saint Naum”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Anca-Livia Panfil
- Compartment of Liaison Psychiatry, “Pius Brinzeu” County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Liliya Panteleeva
- Department of Medical Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
| | - Ion Papava
- Department of Neuroscience, Discipline of Psychiatry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mikaella E. Patsali
- School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alexey Pavlichenko
- Ministry of Health, Millenium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bojana Pejuskovic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Clinical Department for Crisis and Affective Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Mikhail Popkov
- Department of the Introduction to Internal Medicine and Family Medicine, International Higher School of Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
| | | | - Nor Jannah Nasution Raduan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Francisca Vargas Ramírez
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Elmars Rancans
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga, Latvia
| | - Salmi Razali
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Federico Rebok
- Servicio de Emergencia, Acute Inpatient Unit, Hospital Moyano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Argentine Institute of Clinical Psychiatry (IAPC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anna Rewekant
- General Psychiatry Unit I, Greater Poland Neuropsychiatric Center, Kościan, Poland
| | | | - María Teresa Rivera-Encinas
- Centro de Investigación en Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Instituto Nacional de Salud Mental “Honorio Delgado – Hideyo Noguchi”, Lima, Perú
| | - Pilar A. Saiz
- Psychiatry Area, Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, ISPA, INEUROPA. CIBERSAM, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - David Saucedo Martínez
- Department of Psychiatry, Escuela Nacional de Medicina, TEC de Monterrey. Servicio de Geriatría. Hospital Universitario “José Eleuterio González” UANL, Monterrey, Nuevo León México
| | - Jo Anne Saw
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Görkem Saygili
- Assistant Professor at Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence Department, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Schneidereit
- Klinik Für Allgemeine Psychiatrie Und Psychotherapie Ost, Psychiatrische Institutsambulanz, Klinikum Am Weissenhof, Weissenhof, Germany
| | | | - Tomohiro Shirasaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Teine Keijinkai Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Satti Sitanggang
- Psychiatric Unit, Pambalah Batung General Hospital, South Kalimantan, Amuntai, Indonesia
| | - Oleg Skugarevsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Anna Spikina
- Saint Petersburg Psychoneurological Dispensary No2, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sridevi Sira Mahalingappa
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, The Liasion Team, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, Derbyshire UK
| | - Maria Stoyanova
- Second Psychiatric Clinic, University Hospital for Active Treatment in Neurology and Psychiatry “Saint Naum”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Anna Szczegielniak
- Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Simona Claudia Tamasan
- Compartment of Liaison Psychiatry, “Pius Brinzeu” County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Giuseppe Tavormina
- Psychiatric Studies Centre, Provaglio d’Iseo, Italy
- European Depression Association and Italian Association on Depression, Brussels, Belgium
- Bedforshire Center for Mental Health Research, in association with the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Mauricio Tohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - Eva-Maria Tsapakis
- Agios Charalambos Mental Health Clinic, Heraklion, Crete Greece
- 1st Department of Academic Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dina Tukhvatullina
- Centre for Global Public Health, Institute of Population Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Irfan Ullah
- Kabir Medical College, Gandhara University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Ratnaraj Vaidya
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Jelena Vrublevska
- Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga, Latvia
- Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
| | - Olivera Vukovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Institute of Public Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Olga Vysotska
- Department for Research and Education, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natalia Widiasih
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Anna Yashikhina
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry (ICERN), Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
- Educational and Research Center–Ukrainian Family Medicine Training Center, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Panagiotis E. Prezerakos
- Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
| | - Michael Berk
- IMPACT–the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
- Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Levaj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Daria Smirnova
- International Centre for Education and Research in Neuropsychiatry (ICERN), Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia
- Department of Nursing, University of Peloponnese, Laboratory of Integrated Health Care, Tripoli, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Aboelnaga S, Czech K, Wielechowski M, Kotyza P, Smutka L, Ndue K. COVID-19 resilience index in European Union countries based on their risk and readiness scale. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289615. [PMID: 37540717 PMCID: PMC10403121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Addressing risks and pandemics at a country level is a complex task that requires transdisciplinary approaches. The paper aims to identify groups of the European Union countries characterized by a similar COVID-19 Resilience Index (CRI). Developed in the paper CRI index reflects the countries' COVID-19 risk and their readiness for a crisis situation, including a pandemic. Moreover, the study detects the factors that significantly differentiate the distinguished groups. According to our research, Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, and Poland have the lowest COVID-19 Resilience Index score, with Croatia, Greece, Czechia, and Slovakia following close. At the same time, Ireland and Scandinavian countries occupy the top of the leader board, followed by Luxemburg. The Kruskal-Wallis test results indicate four COVID-19 risk indicators that significantly differentiate the countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the significant factors are not only COVID-19-related factors, i.e., the changes in residential human mobility, the stringency of anti-COVID-19 policy, but also strictly environmental factors, namely pollution and material footprint. It indicates that the most critical global environmental issues might be crucial in the phase of a future pandemic. Moreover, we detect eight readiness factors that significantly differentiate the analysed country groups. Among the significant factors are the economic indicators such as GDP per capita and labour markets, the governance indicators such as Rule of Law, Access to Information, Implementation and Adaptability measures, and social indicators such as Tertiary Attainment and Research, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Somaya Aboelnaga
- Department of Urban Regional Development, Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Katarzyna Czech
- Department of Econometrics and Statistics, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Michał Wielechowski
- Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Pavel Kotyza
- Department of Economics, The Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lubos Smutka
- Department of Trade and Finance, The Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Kennedy Ndue
- Institute of Agricultural Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Fasce A, Karlsson L, Verger P, Mäki O, Taubert F, Garrison A, Schmid P, Holford DL, Lewandowsky S, Rodrigues F, Betsch C, Soveri A. Endorsement of alternative medicine and vaccine hesitancy among physicians: A cross-sectional study in four European countries. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2242748. [PMID: 37581343 PMCID: PMC10431744 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2242748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy has become a threat to public health, especially as it is a phenomenon that has also been observed among healthcare professionals. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between endorsement of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and vaccination attitudes and behaviors among healthcare professionals, using a cross-sectional sample of physicians with vaccination responsibilities from four European countries: Germany, Finland, Portugal, and France (total N = 2,787). Our results suggest that, in all the participating countries, CAM endorsement is associated with lower frequency of vaccine recommendation, lower self-vaccination rates, and being more open to patients delaying vaccination, with these relationships being mediated by distrust in vaccines. A latent profile analysis revealed that a profile characterized by higher-than-average CAM endorsement and lower-than-average confidence and recommendation of vaccines occurs, to some degree, among 19% of the total sample, although these percentages varied from one country to another: 23.72% in Germany, 17.83% in France, 9.77% in Finland, and 5.86% in Portugal. These results constitute a call to consider health care professionals' attitudes toward CAM as a factor that could hinder the implementation of immunization campaigns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Fasce
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Linda Karlsson
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Pierre Verger
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (Observatoire Régional de la Santé, ORS-PACA), Marseille, France
| | - Otto Mäki
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Frederike Taubert
- Institute for Planetary Health Behavior, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
- Health Communication Working Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amanda Garrison
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (Observatoire Régional de la Santé, ORS-PACA), Marseille, France
| | - Philipp Schmid
- Institute for Planetary Health Behavior, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
- Department of Implementation Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dawn Liu Holford
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephan Lewandowsky
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Postdam, Germany
| | | | - Cornelia Betsch
- Health Communication Working Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Soveri
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hüsser AP, Ohnmacht T. A comparative study of eight COVID-19 protective measures and their impact on Swiss tourists' travel intentions. TOURISM MANAGEMENT 2023; 97:104734. [PMID: 36712143 PMCID: PMC9874056 DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A comparative vignette-based experimental survey design incorporating various socio-psychological factors, linked to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking scale (DOSPERT) was carried out to test variations in eight travel-related COVID-19 protective measures on Swiss tourists' travel intentions. Among the tested measures, vaccination passports, surgical masks and quarantining are those that stand out the most, with surgical masks having the greatest acceptance and willingness to adopt while traveling. Quarantining, on the other hand, appears to have a deterrent influence on travel intentions, and vaccination passports have the lowest perceived barriers during travel, but the highest perceived benefits in mitigating the spread of the infection. The discussion of individual differences has specific implications for tourism management against the background of our empirical findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Philippe Hüsser
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Institute of Tourism and Mobility ITM, Rösslimatte 48, CH-6002, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Timo Ohnmacht
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Institute of Tourism and Mobility ITM, Rösslimatte 48, CH-6002, Lucerne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Holford DL, Fasce A, Costello TH, Lewandowsky S. Psychological profiles of anti-vaccination argument endorsement. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11219. [PMID: 37460585 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30883-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The proliferation of anti-vaccination arguments online can threaten immunisation programmes, including those targeting COVID-19. To effectively refute misinformed views about vaccination, communicators need to go beyond providing correct information and debunking of misconceptions, and must consider the underlying motivations of people who hold contrarian views. Drawing on a taxonomy of anti-vaccination arguments that identified 11 "attitude roots"-i.e., psychological attributes-that motivate an individual's vaccine-hesitant attitude, we assessed whether these attitude roots were identifiable in argument endorsements and responses to psychological construct measures corresponding to the presumed attitude roots. In two UK samples (total n = 1250), we found that participants exhibited monological belief patterns in their highly correlated endorsements of anti-vaccination arguments drawn from different attitude roots, and that psychological constructs representing the attitude roots significantly predicted argument endorsement strength and vaccine hesitancy. We identified four different latent anti-vaccination profiles amongst our participants' responses. We conclude that endorsement of anti-vaccination arguments meaningfully dovetails with attitude roots clustering around anti-scientific beliefs and partisan ideologies, but that the balance between those attitudes differs considerably between people. Communicators must be aware of those individual differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dawn L Holford
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK.
| | - Angelo Fasce
- University of Coimbra, 3004-531, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Stephan Lewandowsky
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Welch EW, Johnson TP, Chen T, Ma J, Islam S, Michalegko LF, Caldarulo M, Frandell A. How Scientists View Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1208. [PMID: 37515024 PMCID: PMC10385302 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper examines possible causes, consequences, and potential solutions for addressing vaccine hesitancy in the United States, focusing on the perspectives of academic scientists. By examining the experiences of scientists, who are arguably a critical community in US society, we gain deeper insights into how they understand the complexities of vaccine hesitancy and whether their insights and opinions converge with or diverge from the current literature. We present findings from a national survey of a representative sample of academic scientists from the fields of biology and public health regarding vaccine hesitancy and related topics. Empirical analysis using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses covers multiple topics, including vaccine controversy, trust in science, causes of vaccine hesitancy, preferred policy and regulatory approaches, risk perceptions, and scientists' ethics and perceived communication roles. The results highlight a diversity of opinions within the scientific community regarding how to improve science-society communication in regard to vaccines, including the need to be transparent and candid to the public about the risk of vaccines and their research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Welch
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
- Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions, University of Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Timothy P Johnson
- Department of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Tipeng Chen
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Jinghuan Ma
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Shaika Islam
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Lesley Forst Michalegko
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Mattia Caldarulo
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Ashlee Frandell
- Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Daoust JF. How can governments generate compliance in times of crisis? A review of the COVID-19 pandemic. FRENCH POLITICS 2023; 21:179-194. [PMCID: PMC10007662 DOI: 10.1057/s41253-023-00206-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
|
22
|
Gori D, Capodici A, La Fauci G, Montalti M, Salussolia A, Soldà G, Di Valerio Z, Scognamiglio F, Fantini MP, Leask J, Larson HJ, Profeti S, Toth F, Lenzi J. COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal and Delay among Adults in Italy: Evidence from the OBVIOUS Project, a National Survey in Italy. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040839. [PMID: 37112751 PMCID: PMC10141216 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy was defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 as a major threat to global health. In Italy, reluctance to receive vaccines is a widespread phenomenon that was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic by fear and mistrust in government. This study aims to depict different profiles and characteristics of people reluctant to vaccinate, focusing on the drivers of those who are in favor of and those who are opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS A sample of 10,000 Italian residents was collected. A survey on COVID-19 vaccination behavior and possible determinants of vaccine uptake, delay, and refusal was administered to participants through a computer-assisted web interviewing method. RESULTS In our sample, 83.2% stated that they were vaccinated as soon as possible ("vaccinators"), 8.0% delayed vaccination ("delayers"), and 6.7% refused to be vaccinated ("no-vaccinators"). In general, the results show that being female, aged between 25 and 64, with an education level less than a high school diploma or above a master's degree, and coming from a rural area were characteristics significantly associated with delaying or refusing COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, it was found that having minimal trust in science and/or government (i.e., 1 or 2 points on a scale from 1 to 10), using alternative medicine as the main source of treatment, and intention to vote for certain parties were characteristics associated with profiles of "delayers" or "no-vaccinators". Finally, the main reported motivation for delaying or not accepting vaccination was fear of vaccine side effects (55.0% among delayers, 55.6% among no-vaccinators). CONCLUSION In this study, three main profiles of those who chose to be vaccinated are described. Since those who are in favor of vaccines and those who are not usually cluster in similar sociodemographic categories, we argue that findings from this study might be useful to policy makers when shaping vaccine strategies and choosing policy instruments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gori
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angelo Capodici
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giusy La Fauci
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Montalti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Aurelia Salussolia
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Soldà
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Zeno Di Valerio
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Scognamiglio
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Fantini
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Julie Leask
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Heidi J Larson
- Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Stefania Profeti
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna, 40125 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Toth
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna, 40125 Bologna, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lenzi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hassan Raza S, Yousaf M, Zaman U, Waheed Khan S, Core R, Malik A. Unlocking infodemics and mysteries in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Nexus of conspiracy beliefs, digital informational support, psychological Well-being, and religious fatalism. Vaccine 2023; 41:1703-1715. [PMID: 36754765 PMCID: PMC9894779 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Guarding against an anti-science camouflage within infodemics is paramount for sustaining the global vaccination drive. Vaccine hesitancy remains a growing concern and a significant threat to public health, especially in developing countries. Infodemics, conspiracy beliefs and religious fatalism primarily fuel vaccine hesitancy. In addition, anti-vaccine disinformation, lack of understanding, and erroneous religious beliefs also trigger vaccine hesitancy. Global behavioral strategies such as wearing face masks and long-term preventive measures (i.e., COVID-19 vaccination) have effectively limited the virus's spread. Despite the alarming rate of global deaths (i.e., over 99% being unvaccinated), a large proportion of the global population remains reluctant to vaccinate. New evidence validates the usefulness of technology-driven communication strategies (i.e., digital interventions) to address the complex socio-psychological influence of the pandemic. Hence, the present research explored the digital information processing model to assess the interface between informational support (through digital interventions) and antecedents of vaccine hesitancy. This research involved two separate studies: a focus group to operationalize the construct of infodemics, which remained ambiguous in previous literature (Study 1), followed by a cross-sectional survey (Study 2) to examine the conceptual model. Data were collected from 1906 respondents through a standard questionnaire administered online. The focus group's findings revealed a multi-dimensional nature of infodemics that was also validated in Study 2. The cross-sectional survey results substantiated infodemics, religious fatalism and conspiracy beliefs as significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Similarly, conspiracy beliefs negatively influence an individual's psychological well-being. Furthermore, information support (through digital intervention) affected infodemics and religious fatalism, whereas it inversely influenced the strength of their relationships with vaccine hesitancy. Information support (through digital intervention) also moderated the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and psychological well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syed Hassan Raza
- Department of Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Yousaf
- Centre for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan.
| | - Umer Zaman
- Endicott College of International Studies, Woosong University, Jayang-Dong, Dong-gu Daejeon 34606, South Korea.
| | - Sanan Waheed Khan
- School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Univerisiti Utara Malaysia, 0601, Malaysia.
| | - Rachel Core
- Department Chair, Sociology & Anthropology Department, Stetson University, DeLand, FL 32723, USA.
| | - Aqdas Malik
- Department of Information Systems, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman; Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Rapisarda F, Vallarino M, Rosi A, Florkin AL, Ceccato I, Lecce S, Van Vugt F, Briand C, Cavallini E. Older adults' subjective experiences of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Italy: A qualitative study. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:580-587. [PMID: 35723544 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2087208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the subjective experience of the COVID-19 outbreak in healthy older adults and develop a model of the older population's psychological adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A qualitative grounded theory approach was taken to the study design and analysis, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 19 community-active Italian older people by telephone during the first wave of COVID-19 (May 2020). RESULTS The theory emerging from the study conceptualized the COVID-19 subjective experience in older people as an adjustment process to the disruption of habits, social contacts, and routines that prompted a meaning-making process to face this adverse experience. Three emergent categories included 'loss, uncertainty, and distress' as the psychological impact of the pandemic emergency, 'making sense of COVID-19' as a subjective sense-making process of the pandemic, and 'living with the pandemic' as agency and self-management within the pandemic experience. The resulting narratives encompassed themes, i.e. risk perception, representation of the self, connection with past-time memories, and compliance with safety measures. CONCLUSION The results have implications for designing effective messages to promote hope, social responsibility, and commitment in aging during the COVID-19 pandemic and for health workers who wish to support the psychological health of older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Rapisarda
- Research Center of Institut, Universitaire en santé Mentale de Montréal, Canada.,Sociosfera ONLUS SCS, Seregno, Italy
| | - Martine Vallarino
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessia Rosi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Anne-Lise Florkin
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Irene Ceccato
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d' Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, "G. d' Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Serena Lecce
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Catherine Briand
- Research Center of Institut, Universitaire en santé Mentale de Montréal, Canada.,Department of Occupational Therapy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Elena Cavallini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ahlvik-Harju C. Finding more constructive ways forward in the debate over vaccines with increased disability cultural competence. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:9-16. [PMID: 35487682 PMCID: PMC9985754 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2021-012342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to study the discursive construction of disability that takes place in the vaccine-autism controversy from the 1990s to 2000s, and an attempt to develop a more holistic framework to understand vaccine decisions and their motivations. It is argued that the debate over vaccines produces knowledge and meanings about disability, and that the vaccine-autism controversy is kept alive largely because of how it reproduces stigmatising accounts of disability and autism. The suggestion is that if the stigmatising elements of disability were removed in the debate over vaccines, there would be no controversy to keep alive in the broader vaccine debate. Hence, this article is an attempt to increase disability cultural competence in the media and among health authorities and health professionals and therethrough broaden the shared understanding of what it means to be or become disabled. By investigating the driving forces for past vaccine controversies, the goal is to find more constructive ways forward in present day and future debates over vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Ahlvik-Harju
- Theology, Åbo Akademi University Faculty of Arts Psychology and Theology, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Pilch I, Turska-Kawa A, Wardawy P, Olszanecka-Marmola A, Smołkowska-Jędo W. Contemporary trends in psychological research on conspiracy beliefs. A systematic review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1075779. [PMID: 36844318 PMCID: PMC9945548 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1075779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The number of psychological studies on conspiracy beliefs has been systematically growing for about a dozen years, but in recent years, the trend has intensified. We provided a review covering the psychological literature on conspiracy beliefs from 2018 to 2021. Halfway through this period, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, accompanied by an explosion of movements based on conspiracy theories, intensifying researchers' interest in this issue. Methods Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, the review systematically searched for relevant journal articles published between 2018 and 2021. A search was done on Scopus and Web of Science (only peer-reviewed journals). A study was included if it contained primary empirical data, if specific or general conspiracy belief(s) were measured and if its correlation with at least one other psychological variable was reported. All the studies were grouped for the descriptive analysis according to the methodology used, the participants' characteristics, the continent of origin, the sample size, and the conspiracy beliefs measurement tools. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity of the studies, narrative synthesis was performed. The five researchers were assigned specific roles at each stage of the analysis to ensure the highest quality of the research. Results Following the proposed methodology, 308 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 274 articles (417 studies) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and included in the review. Almost half of the studies (49.6%) were conducted in European countries. The vast majority of the studies (85.7%) were carried out on samples of adult respondents. The research presents antecedents as well as (potential) consequences of conspiracy beliefs. We grouped the antecedents of conspiracy beliefs into six categories: cognitive (e.g., thinking style) motivational (e.g., uncertainty avoidance), personality (e.g., collective narcissism), psychopathology (e.g., Dark Triad traits), political (e.g., ideological orientation), and sociocultural factors (e.g., collectivism). Conclusion and limitations The research presents evidence on the links between conspiracy beliefs and a range of attitudes and behaviors considered unfavorable from the point of view of individuals and of the society at large. It turned out that different constructs of conspiracy thinking interact with each other. The limitations of the study are discussed in the last part of the article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Pilch
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Turska-Kawa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland,*Correspondence: Agnieszka Turska-Kawa,
| | - Paulina Wardawy
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agata Olszanecka-Marmola
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Smołkowska-Jędo
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention among university students: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2023; 5:37-44. [PMID: 36588928 PMCID: PMC9792187 DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is crucial in controlling the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that triggered the pandemic, but herd immunity can only work with high vaccination coverage in the population. This study aims to measure the COVID-19 knowledge level and determine the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out with 1,274 Malaysian university students in July 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to examine the relationships between the study variables. Results showed that the majority of university students had an acceptable level of knowledge of COVID-19. The knowledge, risk perception of COVID-19, social norms, and perceived benefit of COVID-19 vaccination were positively associated with vaccination intention. However, perceived trust in information sources of COVID-19 vaccination and the government's response to COVID-19 did not affect the university students' desire to receive the vaccination. These findings are essential for health policymakers and healthcare providers to implement evidence-based interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake among university students.
Collapse
|
28
|
Čavojová V, Šrol J, Ballová Mikušková E. Scientific reasoning is associated with rejection of unfounded health beliefs and adherence to evidence-based regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-15. [PMID: 36718393 PMCID: PMC9876755 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04284-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Scientific reasoning and trust in science are two facets of science understanding. This paper examines the contribution of science understanding, over and above analytic thinking, to the endorsement of conspiracy and pseudoscientific beliefs about COVID-19 and behavioral intentions to engage in the recommended preventive behavior. We examined the direct and indirect effects of science understanding on normative health behavior in a representative sample of the Slovak population (N = 1024). The results showed more support for the indirect pathway: individuals with a better understanding of science generally had fewer epistemically suspect beliefs and as a consequence tended to behave more in line with the evidence-based guidelines and get vaccinated. Neither scientific reasoning nor trust in science directly predicted non-compliance with preventive measures, but analytic thinking correlated positively with non-compliance with preventive measures. The strongest predictor of epistemically suspect beliefs was trust in science, which also directly predicted the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Therefore, reasoning about which experts or sources to believe (second-order scientific reasoning) has become more important than directly evaluating the original evidence (first-order scientific reasoning). Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04284-y.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimíra Čavojová
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jakub Šrol
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Ballová Mikušková
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Goreis A, Pfeffer B, Zesch HE, Klinger D, Reiner T, Bock MM, Ohmann S, Sackl-Pammer P, Werneck-Rohrer S, Eder H, Skala K, Czernin K, Mairhofer D, Rohringer B, Bedus C, Lipp R, Vesely C, Plener PL, Kothgassner OD. Conspiracy beliefs and COVID-19 guideline adherence in adolescent psychiatric outpatients: the predictive role of adverse childhood experiences. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:13. [PMID: 36694261 PMCID: PMC9873214 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00554-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conspiracy beliefs have become widespread throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have shown that endorsing conspiracy beliefs leads to lower protective guideline adherence (i.e., wearing face masks), posing a threat to public health measures. The current study expands this research across the lifespan, i.e., in a sample of adolescents with mental health problems. Here, we investigated the association between conspiracy beliefs and guideline adherence while also exploring the predictors of conspiracy beliefs. METHODS N = 93 adolescent psychiatric outpatients (57% female, mean age: 15.8) were assessed using anonymous paper-pencil questionnaires. Endorsement of generic and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs was assessed, in addition to items measuring adherence to protective guidelines and mental health (stress, depressive symptoms, emotional/behavioral problems, and adverse childhood experiences). Multiple regressions and supervised machine learning (conditional random forests) were used for analyses. RESULTS Fourteen percent of our sample fully endorsed at least one COVID-19 conspiracy theory, while protective guidelines adherence was relatively high (M = 4.92, on a scale from 1 to 7). The endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs-but not of generic conspiracy beliefs-was associated with lower guideline adherence (β = - 0.32, 95% CI - 0.53 to - 0.11, p < .001). Conditional random forests suggested that adverse childhood experiences and peer and conduct problems were relevant predictors of both conspiracy belief categories. CONCLUSION While a significant proportion of our sample of adolescents in psychiatric treatment endorsed conspiracy beliefs, the majority did not. Furthermore, and to some degree, contrary to public perception, we found that adolescents show relatively good adherence to public health measures-even while experiencing a high degree of mental distress. The predictive value of adverse childhood experiences and peer/conduct problems for conspiracy beliefs might be explained by compensatory mechanisms to ensure the safety, structure, and inclusion that conspiracies provide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Goreis
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Pfeffer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidi Elisabeth Zesch
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diana Klinger
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Reiner
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Susanne Ohmann
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Sackl-Pammer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Werneck-Rohrer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Eder
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katrin Skala
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Czernin
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dunja Mairhofer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Rohringer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carolin Bedus
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ronja Lipp
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Vesely
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul L. Plener
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oswald D. Kothgassner
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ruani MA, Reiss MJ. Susceptibility to COVID-19 Nutrition Misinformation and Eating Behavior Change during Lockdowns: An International Web-Based Survey. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15020451. [PMID: 36678321 PMCID: PMC9861671 DOI: 10.3390/nu15020451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand the susceptibility to nutrition-health misinformation related to preventing, treating, or mitigating the risk of COVID-19 during the initial lockdowns around the world, the present international web-based survey study (15 April-15 May 2020) gauged participants' (n = 3707) level of nutrition-health misinformation discernment by presenting them with 25 statements (including unfounded or unproven claims circulated at the time), alongside the influence of information sources of varying quality on the frequency of changes in their eating behavior and the extent of misinformation held, depending on the source used for such changes. Results revealed widespread misinformation about food, eating, and health practices related to COVID-19, with the 25 statements put to participants receiving up to 43% misinformed answers (e.g., 'It is safe to eat fruits and vegetables that have been washed with soap or diluted bleach'). Whereas higher quality information sources (nutrition scientists, nutrition professionals) had the biggest influence on eating behavior change, we found greater misinformation susceptibility when relying on poor quality sources for changing diet. Appropriate discernment of misinformation was weakest amongst participants who more frequently changed their eating behavior because of information from poor quality sources, suggesting disparities in the health risks/safety of the changes performed.
Collapse
|
31
|
Ehrke F, Grommisch G, Busch EP, Kaczmarek MC. Populist Attitudes Predict Compliance-Related Attitudes and Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic Via Trust in Institutions. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1027/1864-9335/a000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. While previous research discussed populism as a phenomenon of declining trust, we investigated the predictive value of populist attitudes for citizens’ trust, attitudes, and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we tested the role of trust in several institutions simultaneously. As preregistered, the cross-sectional ( N = 1,090) and longitudinal ( n = 216) data collected (April to June, 2020) in Germany ( n = 617) and Poland ( n = 473) showed that stronger populist attitudes predicted higher trust in (a) alternative news media but less trust in (b) mainstream news media, (c) political institutions, and (d) scientific institutions. Moreover, we found negative effects of populist attitudes on acceptance and compliance, mediated via trust in political and scientific institutions (but not news media).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Ehrke
- Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Campus Landau, Germany
| | - Gloria Grommisch
- Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Campus Landau, Germany
| | - Emma Penelope Busch
- Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Campus Landau, Germany
| | - Magdalena C. Kaczmarek
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Paschoalotto MAC, Costa EPPA, Almeida SVD, Cima J, Costa JGD, Santos JV, Passador CS, Passador JL, Barros PP. Perceptions of institutional performance and compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions: How performance perceptions and policy compliance affect public health in a decentralized health system. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285289. [PMID: 37172055 PMCID: PMC10180683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Trust in institutions is a key driver to shape population attitudes and behavior, such as compliance of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was fundamental and its compliance was supported by governmental and non-governmental institutions. Nevertheless, the situation of political polarization in some countries with decentralized health systems increased the difficulty of such interventions. This study analyzes the association between non-pharmaceutical interventions' compliance and individual perception regarding institutions' performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A web survey was conducted in Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021. Bivariate analysis and ordered logit regressions were performed to assess the association between NPIs compliance and perceived institutions' performance. Results suggest a negative association between NPIs' compliance and Federal Government and Ministry of health perceived performance, which may reflect the political positioning of the respondents. Moreover, we find a positive association between NPI compliance and the perceived performance of the remaining institutions (state government, federal supreme court, national congress, WHO, media and SUS). Our contribution goes beyond the study of a relationship between non-pharmaceutical interventions' compliance and institutions' performance, by pointing out the importance of subnational and local governmental spheres in a decentralized health system, as well as highlighting the importance of social communication based on health organizations' information and scientific institutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joana Cima
- Centre for Research in Economics and Management (NIPE), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Gomes da Costa
- Center for Economics and Finance, School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Vasco Santos
- MEDCIDS-Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS-Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Public Health Unit, ACES Grande Porto VIII-Espinho/Gaia, ARS Norte, Porto, Portugal
| | - Claudia Souza Passador
- School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - João Luiz Passador
- School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Pedro Pita Barros
- Nova School of Business and Economics, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Slotte P, Karlsson LC, Soveri A. Attitudes towards mandatory vaccination and sanctions for vaccination refusal. Vaccine 2022; 40:7378-7388. [PMID: 35688728 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Investigating attitudes towards mandatory vaccination and sanctions for vaccination refusal in an area with insufficient vaccination coverage may help health authorities to assess which strategies for increasing vaccination coverage are appropriate. This study examines attitudes to vaccine mandates and asks questions regarding what kinds of sanctions could legitimately result from vaccination refusal. It seeks to find out if people's attitudes towards mandates and towards sanctions for vaccination refusal are related to their attitudes to vaccines and the degree of trust they feel towards health care professionals and health care authorities. The study also discusses how the observed attitudes towards mandates may be related to perceptions of autonomy, responsibility, and equitability. METHODS Data collection was carried out in Finland through an online survey in a region with suboptimal vaccine uptake. Statistical analysis was conducted on a sample of 1101 respondents, using confirmatory factor analysis and structural regression analysis. RESULTS Persons hold different views on mandates and sanctions. Importantly, the persons who support vaccination mandates and sanctions for vaccination refusal are to a great degree the same people who have positive attitudes to vaccines and high trust in health care professionals and health authorities. CONCLUSION Trust is a key factor which has a bearing on people's attitudes towards mandates and sanctions for noncompliance. A focus on the reasons for lack of trust, and on how to enhance trust, is a more feasible long-term way (than mandates) to promote large- scale compliance with childhood vaccine programmes in the studied country context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Slotte
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Tehtaankatu 2, FI-20500 Turku, Finland; Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives, Siltavuorenpenger 1A, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Linda C Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Anna Soveri
- Department of Clinical Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sutanto MY, Hosek MG, Stumpff SK, Neuhoff BK, Hernandez BS, Wang Z, Ramsey PS, Boyd AR. Sociodemographic predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and leading concerns with COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant women at a South Texas clinic. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2022; 35:10368-10374. [PMID: 36195447 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2022.2128652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE COVID-19 vaccination rates among pregnant women remain low, despite increased risk of COVID-19-related illness and death and demonstrated vaccine safety and efficacy in this population. The objective of this study is to identify sociodemographic predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and elucidate important concerns among the pregnant population in light of evolving conversations regarding COVID-19. METHODS A prospective survey of pregnant women at a single urban clinic in South Texas was conducted August to September 2021 to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the pregnant population. Collected variables included demographics, COVID-19 beliefs, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap)/influenza vaccine hesitancy, and primary vaccine concerns. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test, asymptotic two-sample Brown-Mood median test, and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS One hundred and nine participants completed the survey, 35 vaccinated and 74 unvaccinated, with a response rate of 91.6%. Women who were COVID-19 vaccine hesitant were more likely to be younger (28.0 vs. 31.0 years, p < .004) and further along in pregnancy (30.0 vs. 20.0 weeks, p = .001). They were also more likely to report influenza (odds ratio (OR) 6.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-17.1) and Tdap (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.75-10.7) vaccine hesitancy. Furthermore, women who were vaccine hesitant were more likely to believe they did not have enough information to confidently make their decision (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.4-11.4). Primary concerns with COVID-19 vaccines included: short- and long-term side effects on the pregnancy, personal long-term side effects, and harmful ingredients. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 vaccine hesitant pregnant women were more likely to be younger, hesitant toward other vaccines, and concerned with pregnancy impact and harmful ingredients. Personal knowledge of other vaccinated pregnant women was associated with significantly higher vaccine acceptance rates. Access to vaccines and concerns about quality control were not cited as reasons for vaccine hesitancy, in contrast to earlier studies on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Y Sutanto
- Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Meredith G Hosek
- Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sierra K Stumpff
- Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Barbara K Neuhoff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Brian S Hernandez
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Zhu Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Patrick S Ramsey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angela R Boyd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kucukkarapinar M, Karadag F, Budakoglu I, Aslan S, Ucar O, Pence AY, Timurcin U, Tumkaya S, Hocaoglu C, Kiraz I. The Relationship between COVID-19 Protection Behaviors and Pandemic-Related Knowledge, Perceptions, Worry Content, and Public Trust in a Turkish Sample. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10122027. [PMID: 36560437 PMCID: PMC9784616 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of knowledge, COVID-19-related perceptions, and public trust on protective behaviors in Turkish people. Methods: Data were collected from an online survey (Turkish COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring) conducted between July 2020 and January 2021. The recommended protective behaviors (hand cleaning, wearing a face mask, and physical distancing) to prevent COVID-19 were examined. The impacts of the following variables on protective behaviors were investigated using logistic regression analysis: knowledge, cognitive and affective risk perception, pandemic-related worry content, public trust, conspiracy thinking, and COVID-19 vaccine willingness. Results: Out of a total of 4210 adult respondents, 13.8% reported nonadherence to protection behavior, and 86.2% reported full adherence. Males and young (aged 18−30 years) people tend to show less adherence. Perceived self-efficacy, susceptibility, and correct knowledge were positively related to more adherence to protective behavior. Perceptual and emotional factors explaining protective behavior were perceived proximity, stress level, and worrying about the relatives who depended on them. Trust in health professionals and vaccine willingness were positive predictors, while conspiracy thinking and acquiring less information (<2, daily) were negative predictors. Unexpectedly, trust in the Ministry of Health showed a weak but negative association with protection behavior. Conclusions: Perceived stress, altruistic worries, and public trust seem to shape protection behaviors in addition to individuals’ knowledge and cognitive risk perception in respondents. Males and young people may have a greater risk for nonadherence. Reliable, transparent, and culture-specific health communication that considers these issues is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melike Kucukkarapinar
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
- Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Center of Excellence (NÖROM), Ankara 06560, Turkey
- Correspondence:
| | - Filiz Karadag
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Irem Budakoglu
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education and Informatics, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Selcuk Aslan
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Onder Ucar
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Yay Pence
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Utku Timurcin
- Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Phase VI, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Selim Tumkaya
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Pamukkale University, Denizli 20070, Turkey
| | - Cicek Hocaoglu
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53020, Turkey
| | - Ilknur Kiraz
- Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53020, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Poghosyan H, Ni Z, Vlahov D, Nelson L, Nam S. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Medicare Beneficiaries with and Without Cancer History: A US Population-based Study. J Community Health 2022; 48:315-324. [PMID: 36427111 PMCID: PMC9702715 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01174-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Medicare beneficiaries is critical for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the US. This study aimed to estimate and compare the vaccine hesitancy rate among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with and without cancer history, also to investigate factors associated with vaccine hesitancy during the first four months after COVID-19 vaccine became available. We used population-based, cross-sectional data on 3,034 community-living Medicare beneficiaries from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey COVID-19 Winter 2021 Supplement. Sample weights were applied to account for the complex survey design with results generalizable to 16.4 million Medicare beneficiaries. Weighted multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to investigate the association between cancer history and vaccine hesitancy adjusting for covariates. A total of 39.6% were hesitant about getting COVID-19 vaccine. Those with cancer history were significantly less likely to be hesitant to get vaccinated than those without cancer history (adjusted odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.64, 0.99, p = .050). The most common reason for being hesitant to get COVID-19 vaccine was that the vaccine could have side effects or was viewed as not safe (19.2%), followed by not trusting what government says about vaccine (11.4%). Those with cancer history were more likely to report ongoing health conditions, lack of recommendation from a doctor, and doctor recommending against COVID-19 vaccination as reasons for not getting the vaccine compared to participants without cancer history. Increasing the confidence and knowledge about vaccine benefits among high-risk and more hesitant individuals are urgently needed to increase the vaccine uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hermine Poghosyan
- Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- COPPER Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Zhao Ni
- Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David Vlahov
- Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - LaRon Nelson
- Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Soohyun Nam
- Yale School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jach Ł. The scientistic worldview and its relationships with fear of COVID, conspiracy beliefs, preventive behaviors, and attitudes towards vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Polish sample. CURRENT ISSUES IN PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 11:11-28. [PMID: 38013829 PMCID: PMC10654346 DOI: 10.5114/cipp.2021.111633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The scientistic worldview is characterized by the tendency to justify beliefs and behavior with scientific findings and to function on the basis of theorems and opinions formulated by scientists. The aim of this study was to test whether the attitudes typical for the scientistic worldview could be related to beliefs and behaviors that may reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE The study was conducted on a Polish sample of 1286 participants, using an online survey platform. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires to measure attitudes towards vaccines on COVID-19, the scientistic worldview, fear of COVID, conspiracy beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic, and preventive behaviors undertaken. Participants were also asked about their personal experiences with the pandemic. RESULTS The study showed that the scientistic worldview was associated with a higher fear of COVID, a higher level of containment-related behavior, a lower level of conspiracy beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic, and more positive attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19. A structural model of relations between the studied variables turned out to be very effective and explained 51% of the variance of containment-related behavior and 63% of the variance of attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines. CONCLUSIONS The study found that preventive behaviors and attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 were weakly related to personal experiences during the pandemic but significantly correlated with psychological variables. The results suggest that very positive, scientistic attitudes towards science may be related to higher adherence to science-based public health recommendations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Jach
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bam NE. Strategies to address conspiracy beliefs and misinformation on COVID-19 in South Africa: A narrative literature review. Health SA 2022; 27:1851. [PMID: 36483504 PMCID: PMC9723965 DOI: 10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Conspiracy theories and misinformation have been explored extensively however, strategies to minimise their impact in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are limited. This study aimed to explore strategies that can be used to reduce the negative effects of conspiracies and misinformation about SARS-CoV-2. This review was carried out based on accessed literature on beliefs in misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive search of databases, such as Google Scholar, EBSCOhost and African Journals between 2019 and 2022 yielded qualitative and quantitative studies. Two themes emerged, namely underlying motives for conspiracy theories and belief in misinformation about the pandemic and ways to overcome them. The latter included: (1) strengthening critical scanning of information, (2) critical review to address misinformation and (3) establishing approaches for managing conspiracy theories. A proposal is made to address conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 infection. CONTRIBUTION This is believed to be the first review that describes strategies to mitigate belief in conspiracies and misinformation to promote vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nokwanda E Bam
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Mahikeng, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Romer D, Jamieson KH. Conspiratorial thinking as a precursor to opposition to COVID-19 vaccination in the US: a multi-year study from 2018 to 2021. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18632. [PMID: 36329136 PMCID: PMC9633026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22014-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite widespread availability of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in the US, only about 66% of the eligible US population had taken the recommended initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccines as of April 2022. Explanations for this hesitancy have focused on misinformation about the vaccines, lack of trust in health authorities, and acceptance of conspiracy theories about the pandemic. Here we test whether those with a conspiratorial mindset, which distrusts a wide range of institutions, were poised to reject COVID vaccines before the pandemic even began. To answer that question, we reinterviewed members of a national US panel that we had previously surveyed beginning in 2018. As hypothesized, having a conspiratorial mindset in 2019 predicted COVID-vaccination hesitancy in 2021 better than prior trust in health authorities or acceptance of vaccine misinformation. Those with the mindset were also more likely to consume media that bolstered belief in pandemic conspiracies. Research is needed on the determinants of conspiratorial mindset and ways to minimize the likelihood that consequential health decisions will be influenced by it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Romer
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania, 202 S. 36th ST, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Kathleen Hall Jamieson
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania, 202 S. 36th ST, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Rosman T, Bosnjak M, Silber H, Koßmann J, Heycke T. Open science and public trust in science: Results from two studies. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:1046-1062. [PMID: 35699352 PMCID: PMC9630960 DOI: 10.1177/09636625221100686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g. by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We did not however find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Rosman
- Tom Rosman, Leibniz Institute for
Psychology (ZPID), Universitaetsring 15, 54296 Trier, Germany.
| | | | - Henning Silber
- GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social
Sciences, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Heycke
- GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social
Sciences, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Rosman T, Bosnjak M, Silber H, Koßmann J, Heycke T. Open science and public trust in science: Results from two studies. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022. [PMID: 35699352 DOI: 10.23668/psycharchives.6495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g. by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We did not however find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henning Silber
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Heycke
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rosman T, Bosnjak M, Silber H, Koßmann J, Heycke T. Open science and public trust in science: Results from two studies. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022. [PMID: 35699352 DOI: 10.23668/psycharchives.6494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g. by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We did not however find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henning Silber
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Heycke
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rosman T, Bosnjak M, Silber H, Koßmann J, Heycke T. Open science and public trust in science: Results from two studies. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022. [PMID: 35699352 DOI: 10.23668/psycharchives.6496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g. by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We did not however find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henning Silber
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Heycke
- GESIS - Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Misinformation about medication during the COVID- 19 pandemic: A perspective of medical staff. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276693. [PMID: 36301877 PMCID: PMC9612566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare professionals had to face numerous challenges during the pandemic, their professional activity being influenced not only by the virus, but also by the spread of medical misinformation. In this regard, we aimed to analyze, from the perspective of medical staff, the way medical and non-medical information about the virus was communicated during the pandemic to encourage the development of future research or interventions in order to raise awareness about the way misinformation affected medical staff. METHODS AND FINDINGS The study was conducted on Romanian healthcare professionals. They were asked to answer to a questionnaire and the sample of the research includes 536 respondents. The findings revealed that most respondents stated that information about alternative treatments against the virus affected the credibility of health professionals, and that younger professionals believed to a greater extent that trust in doctors was affected. The research also showed that respondents were well informed about the drugs used in clinical trials in order to treat the virus. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare professionals declared that the spread of misinformation regarding alternative treatments, affected their credibility and the relationship with their patients. Healthcare professionals had knowledge about the drugs used in clinical trials, and they acknowledged the role of social media in spreading medical misinformation. However, younger professionals also believed that social media could be used to share official information about the virus.
Collapse
|
45
|
Bulatova N, Younes S, Arabiyat M, Abukaff A, Madanat S, Alqudah E, Hamati A, Halawa F, Younes A. Use of traditional and complementary medicine for COVID 19 prophylaxis among healthcare professionals and students in Jordan: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276015. [PMID: 36264917 PMCID: PMC9584517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is inadequate evidence to recommend the use of any traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) methods such as vitamin, mineral, herbal or other dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID 19. Members of the medical team are particularly at risk of exposure to high viral load of coronavirus. They have also the best access to professional information regarding disease treatment and prophylaxis and disseminate such knowledge. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of use of T&CM for the prophylaxis of COVID 19 among the healthcare professionals and students in Jordan, along with the most common types and the factors associated with T&CM use. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study of T&CM use was conducted in Jordan using a snowball sampling method to distribute Google Forms and to enrol participants during coronavirus outbreak between June 10, 2021, and August 28, 2021. The study included healthcare professionals or students who consented to participate in the survey. The survey excluded those participants who had filled the questionnaire at least once or were pregnant/breast-feeding at the time of the study. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items, including screening, checkbox, dichotomous, matrix and open-ended questions. RESULTS The response rate was 97.1%. Out of 560 study respondents, 359 (64.1%) reported using T&CM for COVID 19 prevention. Vitamins and nutrients were consumed by almost half (48.4%) of study participants, while nonpharmacological methods and herbal remedies were consumed by 35.2% and 25.2%, respectively. The most common source of information regarding T&CM use for COVID 19 prophylaxis included scientific publications (59.5%), followed by disease treatment guidelines (38.0%) and social media (32.3%). Adverse effects were reported by 8.5% and possible adverse effects were reported by another 8.5% of participants. The T&CM use was associated with working in contact with COVID 19 patients (OR: 1.625 (95% CI 1.047-2.523) (P = 0.03) and having a colleague as a source of information (OR: 1.720 (95% CI 1.026-2.883) (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of T&CM use for COVID 19 prevention among healthcare professionals and students in Jordan is high, with a significant proportion of participants reporting adverse effects. There is an urgent need for further research toward efficacy and safety of T&CM in COVID 19 prophylaxis as well as development of appropriate public health policy on this issue specific to each country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nailya Bulatova
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan,* E-mail:
| | - Sara Younes
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Majd Arabiyat
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Abukaff
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sara Madanat
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Eman Alqudah
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Anoud Hamati
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Farah Halawa
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Song Q, Mi Y, Ruan L. Pros and cons factors influence population attitudes toward non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccination during post–COVID-19. Public Health 2022; 211:88-96. [PMID: 36058200 PMCID: PMC9365865 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Population compliance greatly influences the effectiveness of vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for the curtaining of COVID-19 transmission. We aimed to determine the conceptual framework of potential factors that influence compliance. Study design This was a cross-sectional study. Methods Questionnaires were used to survey population attitudes toward vaccination and NPIs in China. Confirmatory factor analysis of the survey data by structural equation model was used to define the pros and cons factors of attitudes. The strength and direction of each factor’s effect on population attitudes were illustrated by Bayesian network analysis. Results A total of 1700 respondents aged 18–70 years were surveyed with a panel of 34 questionnaires. Of these questionnaires, the confirmatory factor and structural equation model analysis identified five categories contributing to positive attitudes, including response efficiency, willingness and behavior, trust, cues to action, and knowledge, as well as four categories contributing to negative attitudes, including autonomy, perceived barriers, threat, and mental status. Bayesian networks revealed that cues to action produced a driving force for positive attitudes, followed by willingness and behavior, trust, response efficiency, and knowledge, whereas perceived barriers produced a driving force for negative attitudes, followed by autonomy and threat. Conclusions This study established a concise and representative list of questionnaires that could be applied to investigate the conceptual framework of potential pros and cons factors of attitudes toward vaccination and NPIs for COVID-19 prevention. The factors with driving forces should be addressed with a priority to effectively improve population compliance.
Collapse
|
47
|
Wright KB, Davidson Mhonde R. Faith-Based Community Members, Family, and COVID-19: The Role of Family Cohesion, Social Support, and Spiritual Support on Quality of Life, Depression, and COVID-19-Prevention Behaviors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912267. [PMID: 36231566 PMCID: PMC9566415 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This study examined relationships between family cohesion, social support/spiritual support, and quality of life and depression among faith-based community members during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions. Drawing upon the buffering model of social support and family cohesion as theoretical frameworks, the authors examined these factors in a survey of 551 faith-based community members between March 2020 and June 2020. Family cohesion had a direct and indirect effect (mediated by overall social support and spiritual support on quality of life). Moreover, family cohesion only had a direct effect on depression (e.g., not mediated by overall social support or spiritual support). Greater family cohesion and overall social support were predictive of increased COVID-19-prevention behaviors, while spiritual support was predictive of reduced COVID-19-prevention behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bradley Wright
- Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Correspondence:
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Lockdown support, trust and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: Insights from the second national lockdown in France. Health Policy 2022; 126:1103-1109. [PMID: 36127162 PMCID: PMC9472707 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive sanitary measures such as lockdowns have been implemented all around the world. Based on a representative sample of the population collected through an online cross-sectional survey, the goal of the study was to investigate the factors associated with lockdown agreement in France during the second general lockdown of fall 2020. More specifically, we aimed to investigate how trust in the government and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs influenced lockdown agreement. Trust in the authorities and low adherence to conspiracy beliefs appeared as strong predictors of lockdown acceptance among our sample. Using a mediation analysis, we highlighted a significant indirect effect of trust in the authorities on lockdown agreement through the adherence to conspiracy beliefs: low level of trust translated into higher odds to believe in COVID-19 misinformation which in turn decreased lockdown support. The double effect of trust on lockdown agreement, both directly and indirectly, underlines the importance of careful communication from the government around decisions related to COVID-19 mitigation measures in order not to deteriorate even more the low level of trust in the health action of the government. The fight against false information also appears of the utmost importance to increase the population adherence to public authorities’ recommendations.
Collapse
|
49
|
Capasso M, Caso D, Zimet GD. The Mediating Roles of Attitude Toward COVID-19 Vaccination, Trust in Science and Trust in Government in the Relationship Between Anti-vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs and Vaccination Intention. Front Psychol 2022; 13:936917. [PMID: 36118432 PMCID: PMC9479343 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many conspiracy theories have spread widely, which has the potential to reduce adherence to recommended preventive measures. Specifically, anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs can have a strong negative impact on COVID-19 vaccination attitude and intention. The present study aimed to clarify how such beliefs can reduce vaccination intention, exploring the possible mediating roles of attitude toward vaccination, trust in science, and trust in government, among a sample of 822 unvaccinated Italian adults (Women = 67.4%; Mage = 38.1). Path analysis showed that anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs influenced intention to get vaccinated both directly and indirectly through the mediating effects of attitude, trust in science, and trust in government. In particular, the simple mediating effect of attitude was the strongest one, followed by the serial mediating effect of trust in science and attitude itself. Findings provide insights into the design of interventions aimed at reducing misinformation and subsequent vaccine hesitancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Capasso
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Caso
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniela Caso,
| | - Gregory D. Zimet
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Van Scoy LJ, Costigan H, Smith RA, Snyder B, Martin MA, Myrick JG, Small ML, Lennon RP. Mixed-methods Analysis of Adults Likely versus Unlikely to Get a COVID-19 Vaccination. Am J Health Behav 2022; 46:467-476. [PMID: 36109856 DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.46.4.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: This mixed-methods study compared perspectives of those 'very likely' versus 'very unlikely' to receive a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: We used an explanatory, sequential, mixed- methods design to analyze quantitative data from a rural Pennsylvania sample. Of the 976 participants, 67 selected 'very unlikely' to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Responses to open-ended questions: "What worries you the most about the COVID 19 pandemic?" and "What are your thoughts about a potential COVID 19 vaccine?" were qualitatively compared to answers from the 67 participants who selected 'very likely' to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We used descriptive content analysis to compare themes across the 2 groups. Results: Both groups had thematic commonalities related to their concerns. Themes that were more common among those 'very unlikely' to get vaccinated included concern for politics overriding vaccine safety and rushed vaccine development timeline, whereas themes related to hope and optimism about vaccination were exclusive to the 'very likely' group. Conclusions: Shared beliefs existed across groups with different intents to vaccinate; yet, identification with vaccine spokespersons differed. Messaging campaigns can use these commonalities to address vaccine hesitancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Van Scoy
- Lauren J. Van Scoy, Department of Medicine, Department of Humanities, and Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States;,
| | - Heather Costigan
- Heather Costigan, Department of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Rachel A Smith
- Rachel A. Smith, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Bethany Snyder
- Bethany Snyder, Department of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Molly A Martin
- Molly A. Martin, Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Jessica G Myrick
- Jessica G. Myrick, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States. Meg L. Small, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Meg L Small
- Meg L. Small, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Robert P Lennon
- Robert P. Lennon, Department of Family and Community Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, and Penn State Law, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|