Abstract
BackgroundThe main purpose in this study carried out from the perspective of infodemic was to investigate the relationships between individuals’ perceived causes of COVID-19, their attitudes towards vaccine and their levels of trust in information sources in terms of various descriptive characteristics.MethodsIn this cross-sectional and correlational study conducted with 1216 individuals from different provinces of Turkey, the Perception of Causes of COVID-19 (PCa-COVID-19) Scale was used. In addition, a questionnaire including the participants’ descriptive characteristics, their attitudes towards vaccine and their level of trust in information sources about Covid-19 was used.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 35.9 ± 12.3 years. Of them, 62.5% were women, 59.0% were married, and 62.1% were university graduates. As for their view of having the Covid-19 vaccine, 54.1% thought to have it, 16.2% did not think, and 29.7% were undecided. Although the correlation was not significant, of the participants, those who considered having vaccination mostly trusted YouTube as their source of information. Of the participants, those whose level of trust in government institutions and health professionals was high displayed significantly more favorable attitudes towards vaccine. The participants obtained the highest mean score from the Conspiracy Theories subscale of the PCa-COVID-19 scale. There was a positive and low-level relationship between attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine, and the Conspiracy Theories (r: 0.214) and Faith Factors (r: 0.066) sub-dimensions of the PCa-COVID-19 Scale.ConclusionsThe level of vaccine hesitancy in Turkey is at an alarming level, and the virus is defined by moderate conspiracy theories. In this context, in the fight against infodemic, it is critical to implement mechanisms that can reveal misinformation and to plan initiatives that can increase the health literacy levels of societies.
Highlights
The main purpose in this study carried out from the perspective of infodemic was to investigate the relationships between individuals’ perceived causes of COVID-19, their attitudes towards vaccine and their levels of trust in information sources in terms of various descriptive characteristics
According to the report released by Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center in May 2021, Turkey ranks fifth after the United States, India, Brazil and France with its more than five million confirmed cases [2]
The concept of infodemic [4] derived from the words “information” and “pandemic” in English, took its place again on the agenda at the global level after Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that “We are fighting a pandemic, and an infodemic” in February 2020 [5]
Summary
The main purpose in this study carried out from the perspective of infodemic was to investigate the relationships between individuals’ perceived causes of COVID-19, their attitudes towards vaccine and their levels of trust in information sources in terms of various descriptive characteristics. The concept of infodemic [4] derived from the words “information” and “pandemic” in English, took its place again on the agenda at the global level after Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that “We are fighting a pandemic, and an infodemic” in February 2020 [5]. This concept is defined by the World Health Organization as “a massive collection of information emerging during an epidemic, some of which is true, some of which is wrong, that spreads rapidly like a virus and complicates the health organization” [6]
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