ABSTRACT
Health misinformation is a serious problem that can cause confusion and risk-taking behaviors, undermining public health efforts. Fact-checking has been highlighted as an effective tool for coping with the challenge of misinformation. However, few studies have examined the factors influencing individuals' health fact-checking behaviors. Using the comprehensive model of information seeking, we conducted a two-wave panel survey in China during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored the underlying process that might hinder COVID-19 fact-checking. The results showed that risk perception and worry about COVID-19 triggered a negative COVID-19 information-seeking experience, which reduced COVID-19 fact-checking. Moreover, the propensity to trust COVID-19 misinformation played a moderating role, such that negative information-seeking experience had a stronger negative effect on fact-checking behaviors for people with a greater propensity to trust misinformation. This study demonstrates the dark side of cognitive and affective responses to risks and health information-seeking experiences. The findings offer important implications for future health communication initiatives to effectively promote health fact-checking behaviors.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention in the United States. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 800 respondents recruited from an online panel managed by a survey company. Path analysis was employed to examine the relationships between the study variables. RESULTS: First, perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 vaccine side effects was negatively associated with vaccination intention whereas perceived severity did not show any significant impact. Second, vaccine-related knowledge was not directly related to vaccination intention, but it had an indirect and positive effect on vaccination intention via decreasing perceived susceptibility. Third, doctor-patient communication strengthened the negative effect of vaccine knowledge on perceived susceptibility and severity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study offer insights on how to increase people's vaccination intention and reduce their psychological concerns when making COVID-19 vaccine-related decisions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Government agencies should actively promote the effectiveness and importance of vaccination, while addressing concerns about vaccine safety in the public; Health initiatives also need to enhance the level of knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines through various media channels; Doctors can start the conversations about COVID-19 vaccination with their patients at the point of care and/or via online communication platforms.