Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level.
<h4>Objective</h4>For an effective control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with vaccines, most people in a population need to be vaccinated. It is thus important to know how to inform the public with reference to individual preferences-while also acknowledging the societal preference to encou...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274186 |
| _version_ | 1798000420973445120 |
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| author | Felix G Rebitschek Christin Ellermann Mirjam A Jenny Nico A Siegel Christian Spinner Gert G Wagner |
| author_facet | Felix G Rebitschek Christin Ellermann Mirjam A Jenny Nico A Siegel Christian Spinner Gert G Wagner |
| author_sort | Felix G Rebitschek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Objective</h4>For an effective control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with vaccines, most people in a population need to be vaccinated. It is thus important to know how to inform the public with reference to individual preferences-while also acknowledging the societal preference to encourage vaccinations. According to the health care standard of informed decision-making, a comparison of the benefits and harms of (not) having the vaccination would be required to inform undecided and skeptical people. To test evidence-based fact boxes, an established risk communication format, and to inform their development, we investigated their contribution to knowledge and evaluations of COVID-19 vaccines.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted four studies (1, 2, and 4 were population-wide surveys with N = 1,942 to N = 6,056): Study 1 assessed the relationship between vaccination knowledge and intentions in Germany over three months. Study 2 assessed respective information gaps and needs of the population in Germany. In parallel, an experiment (Study 3) with a mixed design (presentation formats; pre-post-comparison) assessed the effect of fact boxes on risk perceptions and fear, using a convenience sample (N = 719). Study 4 examined how effective two fact box formats are for informing vaccination intentions, with a mixed experimental design: between-subjects (presentation formats) and within-subjects (pre-post-comparison).<h4>Results</h4>Study 1 showed that vaccination knowledge and vaccination intentions increased between November 2020 and February 2021. Study 2 revealed objective information requirements and subjective information needs. Study 3 showed that the fact box format is effective in adjusting risk perceptions concerning COVID-19. Based on those results, fact boxes were revised and implemented with the help of a national health authority in Germany. Study 4 showed that simple fact boxes increase vaccination knowledge and positive evaluations in skeptics and undecideds.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Fact boxes can inform COVID-19 vaccination intentions of undecided and skeptical people without threatening societal vaccination goals of the population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:19:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb87a4404e0645539ea261a64c255d19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:19:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb87a4404e0645539ea261a64c255d192022-12-22T04:27:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01179e027418610.1371/journal.pone.0274186Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level.Felix G RebitschekChristin EllermannMirjam A JennyNico A SiegelChristian SpinnerGert G Wagner<h4>Objective</h4>For an effective control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with vaccines, most people in a population need to be vaccinated. It is thus important to know how to inform the public with reference to individual preferences-while also acknowledging the societal preference to encourage vaccinations. According to the health care standard of informed decision-making, a comparison of the benefits and harms of (not) having the vaccination would be required to inform undecided and skeptical people. To test evidence-based fact boxes, an established risk communication format, and to inform their development, we investigated their contribution to knowledge and evaluations of COVID-19 vaccines.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted four studies (1, 2, and 4 were population-wide surveys with N = 1,942 to N = 6,056): Study 1 assessed the relationship between vaccination knowledge and intentions in Germany over three months. Study 2 assessed respective information gaps and needs of the population in Germany. In parallel, an experiment (Study 3) with a mixed design (presentation formats; pre-post-comparison) assessed the effect of fact boxes on risk perceptions and fear, using a convenience sample (N = 719). Study 4 examined how effective two fact box formats are for informing vaccination intentions, with a mixed experimental design: between-subjects (presentation formats) and within-subjects (pre-post-comparison).<h4>Results</h4>Study 1 showed that vaccination knowledge and vaccination intentions increased between November 2020 and February 2021. Study 2 revealed objective information requirements and subjective information needs. Study 3 showed that the fact box format is effective in adjusting risk perceptions concerning COVID-19. Based on those results, fact boxes were revised and implemented with the help of a national health authority in Germany. Study 4 showed that simple fact boxes increase vaccination knowledge and positive evaluations in skeptics and undecideds.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Fact boxes can inform COVID-19 vaccination intentions of undecided and skeptical people without threatening societal vaccination goals of the population.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274186 |
| spellingShingle | Felix G Rebitschek Christin Ellermann Mirjam A Jenny Nico A Siegel Christian Spinner Gert G Wagner Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. PLoS ONE |
| title | Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. |
| title_full | Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. |
| title_fullStr | Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. |
| title_short | Fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of COVID-19 vaccinations at the population level. |
| title_sort | fact boxes that inform individual decisions may contribute to a more positive evaluation of covid 19 vaccinations at the population level |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274186 |
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