Assessment of German Public Attitudes Toward Health Communications With Varying Degrees of Scientific Uncertainty Regarding COVID-19

Odette Wegwarth,Claudia Spies,Ralph Hertwig,Gert G Wagner

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32335

Odette Wegwarth, Claudia Spies + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32335

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Abstract

This survey study assesses attitudes of the German public regarding COVID-19 health communications with varying degrees of scientific uncertainty.

Highlights

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed scientific uncertainty in its raw form
Chose the scenario expressing the highest magnitude of uncertainty as their preferred form of communication regarding the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure) than any of the other scenarios
In this survey of German residents, a majority of respondents indicated a preference for open communication of scientific uncertainty in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed scientific uncertainty in its raw form. Policy makers and health experts sometimes shy away from communicating scientific uncertainty,[1] fearing that the uncertainty will generate mistrust.[2] In Germany, for instance, the pandemic-related threat scenarios invoked have sometimes been devoid of uncertainty.[3] presenting uncertain aspects of the pandemic as certain may adversely affect citizens’ trust and compliance with containment measures should those reports later prove invalid.[4] We assessed people’s preferences for health communications with varying degrees of scientific uncertainty in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and explore factors associated with the preferred form of communication. Expressions for Communicating the Magnitude of Scientific Uncertainty, in Order of Decreasing Precision eMethods 2.

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Conclusion