Abstract
BackgroundPublic health officials have classified smoking as a risk factor for COVID-19 disease severity. Smokers generally have less trust in health experts than do nonsmokers, leading to reduced risk perceptions. This study addresses smokers’ trust in information sources about COVID-19 and how trust is associated with perceived COVID-19 susceptibility and severity among smokers.Methods and findingsA nationally representative sample of 1,223 current smokers were surveyed between October and November 2020, indicating their level of trust in COVID-19 information sources, and their perceptions of risk from COVID-19. Multiple differences in trustworthiness emerged; smokers trusted their personal doctor for information about COVID-19 more than other information sources, while news media were generally distrusted. In addition, the FDA was trusted less than the NIH and CDC. Several “trust gaps” were observed, indicating disparities in levels of trust associated with gender, ethnicity, education, and political orientation, which had the strongest association with trust of all factors. Political orientation was also a significant predictor of COVID-19 risk perceptions, but there was no independent effect of political orientation when accounting for trust, which was predictive of all risk perception outcomes.ConclusionsTrusted sources, such as personal doctors, may most effectively convey COVID-19 information across political orientations and sociodemographic groups. News media may be ineffective at informing smokers due to their low credibility. The results suggest that trust may explain the apparent effect of political orientation on COVID-19 risk perceptions. Implications for researchers, communication professionals, and policy makers are discussed.
Highlights
Political orientation was a significant predictor of COVID-19 risk perceptions, but there was no independent effect of political orientation when accounting for trust, which was predictive of all risk perception outcomes
The results suggest that trust may explain the apparent effect of political orientation on COVID-19 risk perceptions
While cigarette smoking’s link to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes remains under investigation [1, 2], national public health officials classified smoking as a risk factor for COVID-19 disease severity, and some jurisdictions prioritized smokers for vaccination, as they are considered a priority population by the U.S CDC for receiving a COVID-19 booster [3]
Summary
While cigarette smoking’s link to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes remains under investigation [1, 2], national public health officials classified smoking as a risk factor for COVID-19 disease severity, and some jurisdictions prioritized smokers for vaccination, as they are considered a priority population by the U.S CDC for receiving a COVID-19 booster [3]. Despite these elevated health risks, smokers show disproportionately low willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine relative to the general population [4]. This study addresses smokers’ trust in information sources about COVID-19 and how trust is associated with perceived COVID-19 susceptibility and severity among smokers
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