Public Beliefs Research Articles

Public Beliefs About Accessibility and Quality of Emergency Departments in Germany.

It is well established that emergency department (ED) crowding leads to worse health outcomes. Although various patient surveys provide information about reasons to visit EDs, less is known in terms of beliefs about EDs among the general population. This study examines public beliefs regarding accessibility and quality of EDs and their associations with social characteristics (gender, age, education, immigration background) as well as knowledge about emergency care services and health literacy. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a random sample of 2,404 adults living in Hamburg, Germany, in winter 2021/2022. We developed eight statements regarding accessibility and quality of EDs leading to two scales (Cronbach's α accessibility = 0.76 and quality of care = 0.75). Descriptive statistics of the eight items are shown and linear regression were conducted to determine associations of the two scales with social characteristics as well as knowledge about emergency care services and health literacy (HLS-EU-Q6). Nearly 44% of the respondents agreed that "you can always go to an ED, if you do not get a short-term appointment with a general practitioner or specialist." And 38% agreed with the statement, "If you do not have the time during normal practice hours due to your work, you can always go to an ED." In terms of quality, 38% believed that doctors in EDs are more competent than doctors in general practice, and 25% believed that doctors in EDs are more competent than doctors in specialized practices. In the fully adjusted model, public beliefs about emergency care accessibility and quality of EDs were significantly associated with all social characteristics and knowledge of emergency care options with the strongest associations between knowledge and accessibility (β = -0.17; P < 0.001) and between education and quality (β = -0.23; P < 0.001). We found endorsement of public beliefs about accessibility and quality of EDs that can lead to inappropriate utilization. Our results also suggest that knowledge of different emergency services plays an important role. Therefore, after system-related reorganizations of emergency care, information campaigns about such services tailored to socially deprived populations may help alleviate the issue of crowding.

Enablers of Mental Illness Stigma: A Scoping Review of Individual Perceptions

Introduction. Stigma is noted to be one of the greatest barriers to the recovery of persons with mental health problems. Stigma has been acknowledged as both an individual and a social orchestration that has an overpowering impact on the social standing of marginalized persons in a society. This study examined the extant literature to ascertain if any evidence(s) suggested a relationship between perceived public attitudes, religious and cultural beliefs, and structural violence in perpetuating stigma against persons with mental illness. Method. We applied a five-step scoping review framework by Arksey and O’Malley to examine evidence in the literature that suggests relationships between perceptions, religious and cultural beliefs, and structural violence in perpetuating stigma. The researchers systematically conducted a literature search from six databases, including CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE(R), ProQuest Dissertations &amp; Theses Global, Sociology Collection, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts, using search terms that included stigma, mental illness, perception, religious and cultural beliefs, and structural violence. Results. An initial search in six databases yielded 1223 articles. Checking in the Google Search engine yielded 30 more articles. After removing 25 duplicates, 1198 articles remained for title and abstract screening. After a full-text review, 1143 articles were removed. Overall, 30 articles were selected for data extraction. Thematic analysis of the extracted data resulted in three main themes. These include perceptions about mental illness, perceptions about stigma and discrimination, and forms of stigma perception. Conclusion. This study revealed that individual perceptions of public attitudes contributed to their construction of stigma. It is incumbent on everyone to play their part in mitigating all the negative outcomes that stigma brings, especially to persons with mental illness.

Does disseminating scientific information on social media promote public health during the COVID‐19 pandemic?

AbstractCountries worldwide are transitioning their emergency response activities into long‐term management of COVID‐19. One promising strategy to mitigate the pandemic is combining the widespread use of social media with the potential impact of scientists on science education to create healthier information ecosystems. This study analyzed data from 189 online polls involving 1,391,706 participants who are either Sina Weibo or Tencent WeChat users to explore the impact of scientific information disseminated on social media on public health. This study aimed to address the following questions: (1) Does scientific information disseminated on social media help its audiences avoid becoming infected with COVID‐19? (2) To what extent does scientific information make a difference in the infection rate of its audiences? Our study found that the COVID‐19 un‐infection rate of the audiences receiving scientific information is significantly higher than that of the general social media users. There is a significant and lasting positive correlation between the dissemination of scientific information and the un‐infection rate of its audiences. We suggest that creating healthier information ecosystems should be integrated into the long‐term management of COVID‐19, as updating the public's beliefs about the pandemic is fundamental to mitigating the ongoing threat of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Public beliefs and perceptions related to ecofascism

The concept of ecofascism describes the distortion of ecology for the purpose of gaining greater and wider audience, popularising ideologies and fulfilling xenophobic and nationalistic goals by regimes such as the far-right agenda and the radical ecological groups. This study investigates the issue of ecofascism in Europe, using the example of Greece, by examining the views of the citizens of Greece on the links between the political parties and ecology and environment. A survey of 600 people was conducted in Greece, using questionnaires on ecofascism, politics and ecological issues. The survey showed that the sample has, in general, humanistic, democratic and quite left-wing ideals. However, some of the respondents indicated nationalistic, even fascist, trends. Because the current socio-economic and political conditions in Europe can fuel an outbreak of fascism, we should be very cautious about these findings, due to the growing impact of far-right ideas on society. Some aspects of the ecofascist rhetoric still continue to mislead, revealing the sly and worrying penetration of fascism in Greek society on the pretext of the protection of the Greek environment.

POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND ITS ROLE IN SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION

Political discourse, a pivotal aspect of political life, wields significant influence in shaping public opinion. This article delves into the analysis of political discourse, unraveling its essence and exploring its impact on the formation of public beliefs. It scrutinizes the multifaceted nature of political discourse, its distinctive vocabulary, and its role in various contexts, from oratorical speeches to scholarly articles. The study further examines the goals of political discourse, ranging from persuasion and agenda-setting to identity formation and conflict resolution. Examples from diverse topics such as economics, foreign policy, social issues, ecology, education, and medicine illustrate the broad spectrum of political discourse. The article underscores the evolving role of media and social platforms in disseminating political discourse, emphasizing the diverse mechanisms of influence on public opinion. Drawing from a range of literature, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of the linguistic and extralinguistic dimensions of political discourse.

Public Attitudes and Beliefs About Organ Donation: Development and Validation of a New Instrument.

Background and Purpose: The number of patients in need of lifesaving organ transplants continues to exceed the number of available. One of the most critical factors influencing peoples' practices and rates of organ donation is their attitude and beliefs. This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument that evaluates peoples' attitudes and beliefs about organ donation. Methods: A cross-sectional methodological study was used to guide the development of a questionnaire after reviewing the literature. Results: The initial items (n = 45) were evaluated by 15 nonexperts pilot to verify face validity; then, content validity was established by three experts, and exploratory factorial analysis established construct validity. Afterward, internal consistency was checked using Cronbach's α analysis. Eventually, 31 items were included in the questionnaire, comprising four subscales. Conclusion: According to the results, we found that the "Public Attitudes and Beliefs about Organ Donation" questionnaire has adequate validity and reliability to assess peoples' attitudes and beliefs about organ donation.

Manipulating Public Beliefs about Alliance Compliance: A Survey Experiment

Abstract Conventional wisdom on alliances proposes that leaders comply with alliances because the public opposes violating alliance commitments. However, this assumes that the public can easily judge whether or not a particular policy violates an alliance treaty. This article challenges this assumption and develops a theory that elites have the opportunity to shape public understanding as to whether an action violates an alliance treaty. It shows that while alliance commitments continue to have an important impact on public opinion, signals from unified elites can significantly reduce public pressure to support an ally by arguing that the alliance treaty does not create a legal obligation to intervene. In a pair of experiments on large samples of American adults, we found that a unified signal from the president and the Senate opposition leader can significantly reduce support for sending troops to the embattled ally. Consistent with elite cueing theory, the president’s ability to move public opinion in this manner is eliminated if the Senate opposition leader disagrees with his argument.

Media Exposure, Political Predispositions, and Conspiracy Theories: Explaining Chinese Beliefs in COVID Origins

Abstract This article examines the underpinning mechanisms of the Chinese public’s belief in two opposing conspiracy theories on the origins of coronavirus disease 2019. Utilizing survey data from 4,251 Chinese internet users, our study reveals both the universality and distinctiveness of mechanisms involved in conspiracy theory beliefs. The distinctiveness primarily emanates from the political system and its media environment, while universality is mainly attributed to the cognitive style of intuitive thinking. In China’s political system, exposure to either domestic or foreign media sources exerts substantial influence on public conspiracy beliefs. Notably, we emphasize the mediating role of political ideologies in domestic media exposure. Exposure to domestic media is more likely to lead conservative individuals to reject the conspiracy asserting COVID-19 originated in a lab in China. Concurrently, nationalism mediates foreign media exposure, reinforcing convictions of U.S.-centered conspiracies. This research shows how media narratives, molded by the political context, generate divergent perspectives on conspiracy theories in China. Furthermore, given the role of intuitive thinking in conspiracy beliefs, our findings highlight the potential for cultivating a more rational society through the promotion of analytical thinking, which requires the public to employ a deliberative and conscious cognitive process when exposed to highly politicized media content.

Effect of Surgical Masks and N95 Respirators on Anxiety.

Masks are designed to reduce the spread of airborne pathogens, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although wearing a mask has some adverse effects. The primary objective of this study was to explore the effects of surgical masks and N95 respirators on patients diagnosed with anxiety. Subjects diagnosed with first-episode anxiety disorders were recruited from outpatient departments between February and July, 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was administered at baseline and at follow-up. The questionnaire addressed demographic information, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Subjects were divided into three groups (n=30 each): control (no mask); surgical mask; and N95 respirator. The Kruskal-Wallis test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to examine associations between face mask use and emotion. Ninety subjects completed the study, of whom 51 (56.67%) were male and 39 (43.33%) were female. Time and group effects were observed in HAM-A score among the 3 groups. After 4 weeks, mean (± SD) HAM-A score decreased from 32.63±13.37 to 28.07±9.33 in the control group, increased from 33.67±12.47 to 36.80±10.32 in the surgical mask group, and from 32.33±14.73 to 41.13±8.29 in the N95 respirator group, with no sex differences among the 3 groups. HAM-A score was significantly higher in the mask groups than that in the control group at follow-up. Only N95 respirator group exhibited significant time effects on HAM-D and ISI scores, with a decreasing trend in HAM-D score and an opposite trend in ISI score. Prolonged mask use may exacerbate anxiety, especially among those wearing N95 respirator masks. In a post-pandemic environment, governments should improve public health beliefs regarding coronavirus disease 2019 and promote the safety of face mask use, thus reducing the physiological and psychological effects of improper mask use.

Публичная дипломатия США в отношении центральноазиатских стран

Introduction. Public diplomacy is an effective foreign policy instrument of the state. Public diplomacy is understood as the activity of an actor aimed at achieving foreign policy objectives by establishing and deepening long-term interstate relations. The purpose of such activities is to inform foreign audiences as well as broadcast the principles of national policy beyond the borders of one’s own state. Public diplomacy is designed to influence those who have the opportunity to shape public belief systems. Methods and materials. The methodological basis of the study was a transnational approach, which allows us to reveal the role of state and non-state actors in international relations. The work uses a systematic approach in order to form a holistic view of American public diplomacy as an instrument of “soft power.” To identify the individual tools used by the United States in promoting public diplomacy in each individual Central Asian country, a comparative method was used. Analysis and results. Public diplomacy seems to be an important tool of the American administration in the most important foreign policy areas. The priority instrument of US public diplomacy in the Central Asian region is the support of civil society and non-profit organizations. Using grant support mechanisms, the role of public organizations is strengthened, and dialogue between civil society and government authorities is encouraged in the formation and development of socio-economic policy. The second relevant tool is media support and working with information consumers among various segments of the population. According to the results of the study, it was revealed that these projects were most effectively implemented in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. The third most successful tool is education, whose work is based on grant programs both in the republics and in the United States. Systematic work carried out, taking into account a deep understanding of the internal processes in the Central Asian republics as well as the active use of public diplomacy tools, allows the United States to strengthen its foreign policy potential in the region.

Measurement of public acceptance of TDM policies using combination of public policy acceptance (PPA) and value belief norm (VBN) approach

One strategy to overcome the problem of imbalance between the demand and supply of road transportation that causes congestion is to apply transport demand management (TDM). TDM is a series of transportation policies aimed at achieving sustainable transportation by reducing the use of private vehicles and prioritizing public transport and/or non-motorized vehicles. The level of public acceptance of TDM largely determines the success of TDM implementation. Through the Value Belief Norm Theory approach, it can be seen that public acceptance of TDM policies will be influenced by how high the norm of community partiality towards the environment. The level of public acceptance of a TDM regulation can also be measured by the Public Policy Acceptance (PPA) Model. The results of the study proved that acceptance of TDM strategy implementation was quite significantly influenced by the pro-environment attitude of the community. The PPA model result showed that people tend to be skeptical of the implementation of TDM policies.

Manipulativity as an object of transdisciplinary humanities knowledge

This scientific article presents a content analysis of modern research in the field of manipulation as one of the current topics of the humanitarian scientific paradigm. Manipulativeness as a multifaceted phenomenon attracts the attention of researchers from various disciplines, from psychology and sociology to political science, media communication and linguistics. The aim of the article is to bring together different approaches and research into a single transdisciplinary body of knowledge on manipulation.&#x0D; The authors analyze different aspects of manipulability, including psychological, socio-cultural and linguistic aspects, especially using the example of media discourse, where manipulation is a key element in politics and media in the modern information age.&#x0D; The focus is on the influence of media manipulation on public opinion, mood, beliefs and values. The article discusses manipulative strategies, tactics and linguistic means of implementing them in media discourse.&#x0D; This article also emphasizes the importance of educating and developing critical thinking as a means to counter manipulative strategies and the relevance of studying manipulativeness in the humanities. The authors believe that a general transdisciplinary study will contribute to a deeper understanding of manipulative behavior and help to develop strategies to effectively counter this phenomenon in modern society.

Public knowledge and beliefs about the irritable bowel syndrome - results from the SOMA.SOC study

BackgroundDespite the epidemiological and economic relevance of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), there is a lack of research on what the general public knows and thinks about this condition (IBS literacy). Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore public knowledge and beliefs about IBS in Germany. Moreover, associations of knowledge and beliefs about IBS with socio-demographic characteristics as well as illness and treatment experiences were analysed.MethodsAnalyses made use of a national telephone survey (N = 1,205). A carefully developed vignette describing a person with typical symptoms of IBS was presented. Respondents were then asked to name the disease in question and beliefs about causes and treatment options were assessed. For the analyses respondents were divided into three groups: (1) people who never had IBS symptoms, (2) people who had or have IBS symptoms but never were in treatment and (3) individuals who reported to be or have been treated for IBS symptoms.ResultsLess than 4% of the respondents recognized IBS after presentation of the vignette. About 75% positively evaluated treatability while psychotherapy was evaluated more effective than medication. Stress and unhealthy lifestyle were the most frequently endorsed possible causes of the presented IBS symptoms. There were variations in knowledge and beliefs about IBS according to age, gender, and education. We found minor differences in beliefs and knowledge between individuals who had or have symptoms but never were in treatment and those without respective illness experience. Respondents with illness/treatment experiences rated their knowledge significantly better than those without any experiences.ConclusionsResults indicate low levels of public knowledge about IBS regarding illness recognition in Germany. A majority disagreed that they have good knowledge about IBS symptoms. Against this background, it seems reasonable to develop and test interventions to improve IBS literacy by increasing knowledge about symptoms, causes and treatment options.

Health Beliefs, Protective Behaviors, and Information-Seeking.

The outbreak of COVID-19 caused severe damage to public health globally and served as a stark reminder of the potential for future pandemics. Promoting protective behaviors to prevent the spread of any contagious disease thus remains a priority. Although research has shown that health beliefs can affect protective behaviors, few studies have examined the role of information-seeking in this relationship. On the basis of the health belief model, this research focused on whether health beliefs affect personal protective behaviors through health information-seeking behaviors. This cross-sectional study with a causal-comparative design used an online questionnaire to investigate the Taiwanese public's health beliefs, protective behaviors, and information-seeking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Between September 2021 and January 2022, 322 valid questionnaires were collected. The results revealed that the effects of two health beliefs-self-efficacy and perceived benefits-on handwashing, social distancing, practicing good cough etiquette, and keeping one's environment clean and well ventilated were partially mediated by the frequency of official information-seeking. Results of this study support the regular and timely promotion of pandemic prevention measures through official sites. Promoting official information-seeking can help enhance protective behaviors.

Promote to protect: data-driven computational model of peer influence for vaccine perception

Vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, driven by social influence, is usually explored by most researchers using exhaustive survey-based studies, which investigate public preferences, fundamental values, beliefs, barriers, and drivers through closed or open-ended questionnaires. Commonly used simple statistical tools do not do justice to the richness of this data. Considering the gradual development of vaccine acceptance in a society driven by multiple local/global factors as a compartmental contagion process, we propose a novel methodology where drivers and barriers of these dynamics are detected from survey participants’ responses, instead of heuristic arguments. Applying rigorous natural language processing analysis to the survey responses of participants from India, who are from various socio-demographics, education, and perceptions, we identify and categorize the most important factors as well as interactions among people of different perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines. With a goal to achieve improvement in vaccine perception, we also analyze the resultant behavioral transitions through platforms of unsupervised machine learning and natural language processing to derive a compartmental contagion model from the data. Analysis of the model shows that positive peer influence plays a very important role and causes a bifurcation in the system that reflects threshold-sensitive dynamics.

Liquefied Natural and Petroleum Gas Carriers: An Analysis of the Potential Dangers, Safety Measures and Risk Factors

Liquefied natural gas (LNAG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are extensively used as environmentally friendly and highly efficient energy sources. Nevertheless, the movement of goods by water has inherent risks to both the environment and human well-being. This study examines the potential hazards, safety precautions, and risk factors related with the transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carriers. This research also aims to examine the perspectives and opinions of individuals working in the LNG and LPG business on the possible hazards, safety precautions, and risk elements related with LNG and LPG carriers. A survey was performed among a heterogeneous sample of 100 individuals from various areas of the business.The analysis reveals that a huge part of individuals expresses problem approximately ability risks associated with LNG and LPG transportation. While self belief in present day safety measures is extraordinary, there are dissenting evaluations, suggesting regions for improvement. Safety protocols, emergency reaction approaches, and the qualifications of personnel also showcase numerous perceptions. Environmental impact emerges as a chief challenge, highlighting the need for similarly research. Transparency and communique within the industry show blended responses, emphasizing potential regions for enhancement. Participants generally well known the fantastic impact of technological advancements, but neutrality suggests various views. Insurance and liability mechanisms are perceived positively, however dissenting critiques underscore areas of skepticism. International cooperation and requirements garner combined responses, indicating ability possibilities for global collaboration. The take a look at concludes by exploring the alignment between public notion and actual protection measures. While a massive component is glad, dissenting and impartial responses indicate room for development in aligning public belief with enterprise protection realities. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights for stakeholders, guiding future safety enhancements and coverage concerns in the LNG and LPG transportation area.

Indonesian Local Literary Rituals in Magical Realism

This study aims to find magical realism in the Bantengan performance, find namely the irreducible elements, the phenomenal world, merging realms, the unsettling doubts, and disruptions of time, space, and identity at the Bantengan show. The method used to reveal these aspects is a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. Theoretically, this research finds magical realism. Practically for researchers, this research is expected to broaden scientific horizons and can be used as a guide to carry out research, especially about traditions that develop in society. For the community, this research is expected to provide an overview of the actual Bantengan performance and provide knowledge to the public that the art of Bantengan contains the meaning of a performance that contains the value of magical realism. The results of this study: 1. The irreducible elements namely Cakepan in the art of bantengan are read as if telling the figure of a bull in the performance arena, furthermore it is used as advice and a medium for conveying messages to the public. 2. the phenomenal world, namely the movements in the Banteng symbolizing the life of the Banteng animal as an authoritative and strong base or forest animal, 3. merging realms, namely between types of religious magical beliefs and Islam there is a harmonious blend, as seen by the reading of prayers that derived from the verses of the Koran at the ceremony, 4. the unsettling doubts, namely the public's belief is still visible in the giving of offerings or offerings before holding a bantengan presentation, 5. disruptions of time, space and identity namely Bantengan and ndadi being one of the elements of the show that cannot be separated, so that it becomes a special attraction for the community.

Manipulativity as an object of transdisciplinary humanities knowledge

This scientific article presents a content analysis of modern research in the field of manipulation as one of the current topics of the humanitarian scientific paradigm. Manipulativeness as a multifaceted phenomenon attracts the attention of researchers from various disciplines, from psychology and sociology to political science, media communication and linguistics. The aim of the article is to bring together different approaches and research into a single transdisciplinary body of knowledge on manipulation.&#x0D; The authors analyze different aspects of manipulability, including psychological, socio-cultural and linguistic aspects, especially using the example of media discourse, where manipulation is a key element in politics and media in the modern information age.&#x0D; The focus is on the influence of media manipulation on public opinion, mood, beliefs and values. The article discusses manipulative strategies, tactics and linguistic means of implementing them in media discourse.&#x0D; This article also emphasizes the importance of educating and developing critical thinking as a means to counter manipulative strategies and the relevance of studying manipulativeness in the humanities. The authors believe that a general transdisciplinary study will contribute to a deeper understanding of manipulative behavior and help to develop strategies to effectively counter this phenomenon in modern society.

Impact of 2015 Earthquake on the Shifts in Internal and International Relations of Nepal

The devastation generated by the 2015 Nepal Gorkha earthquake greatly affected the country’s politics and security, impacting the lives of around 8 million individuals with 9000 recorded deaths, more than 22 thousand injured. Thousands of private houses, public building, cultural heritages and critical infrastructures were damaged. More than 30 districts of Nepal felt the surmounting consequences of the terrible aftershocks. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the shifts within the domestic discourse in Nepal’s political happenings and also to look at the role of global actors in the humanitarian efforts in the country, filling the gaps left by state actors in the kerfuffle. The Constitution and the call for assistance by the central government were important in guaranteeing a certain kind of post-disaster stability and restoring as well as uplifting public morale and belief in the state systems. Adopting a qualitative method, through an analytical lens the study looked at the overall impact of the quake on Nepal’s politics and the trends of bilateral, regional and global assistance, focusing on the major donor agencies and the role of Nepal’s neighbouring states. There were several new developments and outlooks with regards to both state interests and the framework of disaster response. The paper also recognizes the importance of regional integration either by means of institutional instruments or through some other measure alongside a cohesive internal policy arrangement amongst the parties for future strategies aiming at effective disaster reduction and response.

Unraveling Bollywood’s Propaganda: A Framework for Analysing Political Narratives in Indian Cinema

This research paper delves into the intricate relationship between Bollywood cinema and propaganda. Bollywood, India’s film industry, has been a powerful force in shaping national identity and cultural norms. However, as with any form of media, films can serve as vehicles for propagating ideologies and agendas. Against the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s second tenure, marked by an upsurge in propaganda-laden films, this paper seeks to develop a comprehensive framework for evaluating propaganda elements in Bollywood movies. Drawing inspiration from Herman and Chomsky’s propaganda model and Matthew Alford’s adaptation of it for Hollywood, this research establishes the Bollywood propaganda model. The model comprises five key filters namely, concentrated corporate ownership, advertising, sourcing, flak and the enforcers and anti-‘other’ as a control mechanism. This research paper underscores the applicability of the propaganda model to Bollywood, shedding light on the industry’s role in shaping public perceptions and beliefs. While the model offers valuable insights, further research is needed to address the complexities and variations within the Bollywood film landscape comprehensively. Continuous exploration and refinement of the framework are essential for a more nuanced understanding of propaganda’s implications in Bollywood cinema.