Public Communication Strategies Research Articles

Design of a public science communication strategy on cultural heritageand local art in the center of the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

The communication of cultural heritage studies does not always constitute a central action of research projects. Therefore, the objective of this work is to present the design of a public science communication strategy on cultural heritage and local art in the district of Olavarría (Argentina). The proposal arises from the making of a documentary and its low visibility and exchange with the public. To achieve this, methodologically it is proposed to work from communication planning based on contextual models and citizen participation. The main result is the development of a communication strategy, based on transmedia formats and focused on the local educational sector. It concludes on the importance of articulating cultural heritage research with social sectors that are susceptible to becoming aware of their environment and that have a high potential to get involved in its protection and safeguarding.

Understanding facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in the Zimbabwean population: a qualitative analysis

BackgroundVaccines are effective biological interventions that reduce health burdens. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns about varying levels of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the Zimbabwean population. This study aimed to understand facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Zimbabwean population.MethodsIn September–October 2023, key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with a sample comprising health workers, village health workers, church leaders, traditional healers, teachers, youth leaders and the general population selected across the country. At each site, the participant sample was homogeneous. Data were collected using audiotapes, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Data were analysed manually using thematic analysis.ResultsTen FGDs and 30 KIIs were conducted across the country. Among the facilitators of COVID-19 vaccine uptake were the perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, such as protection from infection, severe disease and death. People also complied with COVID-19 vaccination because of the government’s call for mandatory vaccination, travel restrictions, restrictions when entering some premises for services, visiting, working, learning and functions. Barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake included low-risk perception, negative attitudes emanating from concerns about the origins of the vaccines, COVID-19 cases or death of vaccinated people, negative peer influence, religious doctrines, cultural beliefs and misconceptions circulating through social media. Other barriers included knowledge gaps on COVID-19 vaccines, safety, effectiveness, side effects, access-related challenges to COVID-19 services and concerns over the changing policy on COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionsThe study has shown the importance of community engagement and data-driven public health communication strategies to facilitate behaviour change for increased uptake of a vaccine. In future epidemics, public health campaigns should focus on the timely provision of information explaining the benefits of an intervention, addressing safety concerns more effectively. To build trust and hence improve vaccine uptake by the public, there is a need for continuous engagement with people and to provide platforms for dialogue to address issues contributing to low vaccine uptake.

Assessing the prevailing driver seatbelt compliance at Madina Zongo junction in Accra, Ghana: An observational study

Objective This study aimed to examine the prevailing driver seatbelt compliance at the Madina Zongo junction in Accra, Ghana. Methods An unobtrusive observational survey was conducted from 6 to 8 am and 5 to 7 pm on weekdays at randomly designated locations near the junction. A total of 3,054 vehicles were observed throughout the observation period. The data collected were analyzed with SPSS version 26. Cross-tabulations and Pearson’s Chi-square test were employed for thorough analysis. Results The study revealed an overall seatbelt compliance rate of slightly over half (54.1%) among drivers, with the following breakdowns in various vehicle categories: large buses (76.2%), medium buses (98.1%), minibuses (44.0%), private cars (70.5%), taxi/uber (53.0%), and trucks (41.1%). Notably, seatbelt compliance was higher among females at 98.4%, compared to males at 49.2%. The study also identified a correlation between driver’s gender and vehicle type with seatbelt compliance. Conversely, no significant association was found between seatbelt compliance and either the time of day or day of the week. Conclusions The study offers significant findings regarding seatbelt usage trends at the Madina Zongo junction in Accra. These insights provide a basis for recommending targeted interventions such as policy decisions, public health campaigns, communication strategies, better enforcement, and road safety training programs. These interventions aim to raise awareness of unsafe attitudes and behaviors among drivers to improve seatbelt compliance and ultimately enhance road safety for all road users.

Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy Dynamics: Insights from Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Background & Aim: Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy persists, especially within specific demographics. This study delved into vaccine hesitancy among Northern Mindanao, Philippines, residents aged 20 to 64, aiming to understand factors shaping vaccination decisions. Employing the Health Belief Model, the research sought to dispel misconceptions and bolster vaccine uptake through evidence-based public health education and improved communication strategies. By examining socio-demographic variables like age, gender, education, religion, and vaccination status, the study informed targeted interventions for enhancing vaccine acceptance and bolstering community health outcomes. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design and analyzed vaccine hesitancy factors among Northern Mindanao, Philippines residents aged 20 to 64. Stratified sampling ensured representative inclusion across age groups, with a sample size of 372 respondents. Statistical analyses, including F-tests and ANOVA, assessed hesitancy differences, while stringent adherence to data privacy regulations safeguarded participant confidentiality. Results: Among respondents, those aged 51 to 69 exhibited the highest vaccine hesitancy levels, particularly regarding uncertainty and knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines. However, no significant relationship was found between hesitancy levels and age or gender. Conversely, significant disparities in hesitancy were observed concerning educational attainment, religion, and vaccination status. Conclusion: While age, gender, education, and religion are associated with varying levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, none singularly determine hesitancy. Enhanced education and knowledge about vaccines correlate with decreased hesitancy, emphasizing the necessity of targeted education initiatives. However, significant hesitancy disparities based on vaccination status underscore the ongoing challenge of addressing hesitancy despite reassurances about vaccine safety. Recommendation: Implementing tailored educational programs that address specific concerns related to demographic factors is recommended as a crucial strategy for reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI EFEKTIF PUBLIC RELATIONS DALAM BRANDING TERHADAP PELAYANAN PRIMA DI KANTOR KECAMATAN KOTABUMI LAMPUNG UTARA

This article explores effective public relations communication strategies in branding excellent service at the North Lampung Kotabumi District Office, using a qualitative approach. This research aims to understand how effective communication carried out by public relations can influence public perceptions of the quality of service in the office. Involving in-depth interviews, observation and documentation this research highlights the importance of positive communicative interactions to strengthen the image of excellent service and brand. The research results show that implementing targeted communication strategies can increase public satisfaction, create a positive image, and build loyalty towards public services. Using qualitative methods, this research provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of communication at the Kotabumi District Office, as well as providing a basis for recommending improvements to more effective communication strategies. This research can provide guidance for local governments in improving excellent service branding at the local level.

No time to lie: Examining the identity of pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination supporters through user-generated content

ObjectiveThis study delves into the social identity of pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination supporters, emphasizing an understanding of the values that shape these distinct identities. Furthermore, the research highlights that user-generated content pertaining to vaccines offers valuable insights into the underlying personal values of both pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination groups. MethodWe constructed a textual dataset based on 142,596 tweets. This data was analyzed in three steps. First, the linguistic characteristics of the textual data, together with the underlying personal values of the text creators, were identified using LIWC software. Second, the identified personal values were used as an input for the moderation analysis, which examined the relationship between personal values and social identity for pro- and anti-vaccination groups. Finally, an automated, in-depth text analysis was conducted in Mathematica to understand the narratives created by both groups. ResultsThe study findings indicate that both pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination supporters display characteristics of subcultures with distinct group identities. Consequently, based on the results, there is a need for more tailored public health communication strategies that address these two groups separately. ConclusionsUnderstanding how users create health-related content based on their personal values is crucial. Acknowledging and appreciating the diverse personal values and identities within different groups in the vaccination discourse can inform health communication efforts, aligning these efforts with the specific values of each group. This targeted communication is vital for effectively conveying relevant peer-reviewed health information amid the abundance of health-related user-generated content.

General Election Commission Public Communication Strategy in Increasing General Election Participation in Blitar

The Blitar City General Election Commission (KPU) in the 2019 election succeeded in achieving the target number of public participations of 84% compared to 78% in the 2014 election. The KPU's success in increasing public participation in the 2019 election certainly had a good communication strategy. This research aims to determine the KPU's public communication strategy in increasing participation in the 2019 election in Blitar City. This research uses a qualitative approach with data collection techniques in the form of interviews, observation, and documentation. This research uses Lasswell's communication strategy theory, namely selecting and determining communicators, determining target audiences, using techniques for composing messages and choosing media or communication channels. The research results show that the KPU's strategy in determining communicators involves all KPU members and staff, coordinates with relevant stakeholders, and forms ad hoc bodies and Democracy Volunteers. The KPU's strategy in preparing messages is to use language adapted to the target audience, namely local and contemporary languages. The KPU's strategy in choosing media or communication channels uses online, offline, and communication channels. This strategy has succeeded in increasing community participation in accepting political stimuli, individual social characteristics, political systems, political parties, and regional differences so that socialization can be accepted and understood effectively.

The role of emotion and social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic phase transitions: a cross-cultural comparison of China and the United States

Leveraging substantial data from China’s Weibo and datasets from Reddit and X (previously Twitter) in the United States, this research explores the disparities and complex dynamics of emotions and social connections among social media users in China and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that the expression of three negative emotions (anxiety, sadness, and anger) and positive emotions exhibited distinctive dynamics under the impact of the pandemic, with China individuals expressing more anxiety but less sadness and anger than those in the US. Moreover, Chinese social media experienced a surge in positive emotional expressions under lockdown, whereas the US witnessed a conspicuous decline in positive emotions. Also, the expression of three types of social connections - “family”, “collective”, and “country”-exhibited significant differences under the impact of the pandemic, with Chinese individuals establishing deeper connections with their country and American individuals leaning towards familial connections. Further analysis on the moderating effects of social connections substantiated that the “country” connection in China and the “family” connection in the US mitigated the negative emotions affected by the pandemic. These findings facilitate a deeper understanding of how cultural contexts shape social and psychological responses in crises. Based on topic analysis and forward-looking orientation analysis, this study dissects the aforementioned findings through the dichotomy of collectivist and individualist cultures, providing new insights for social psychological support and emotional guidance in the development of public health communication strategies in the future.

Adequacy of health message tailoring for ethnic minorities: Pasifika communities in Sydney, Australia, during COVID-19.

Ethnic minorities, such as Pasifika, residing in high-income countries were at higher risk of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic. To understand the experiences of Pasifika, including message dissemination and barriers to tailored public health messaging during the pandemic, a qualitative study was undertaken, underpinned by Laswell's Model of Communication and Bandura's social cognitive theory with data collected using Pasifika methods. Pasifika adults (n = 65) were recruited across Sydney from July 2020 to March 2022. Health care professionals (HCP) (n = 17) employed by four local health districts (LHDs) and Pasifika community-based organizations delivering multicultural COVID-19-related work within the study catchment, were also recruited. Five themes were constructed from the data of: (i) prevailing fear and uncertainty over COVID-19 infection and losing employment; (ii) limited knowledge of government perpetuating distrust in Government as a benevolent source of information; (iii) faith and trust as priorities for health decision-making; (iv) 'Coconut wireless'-the role of family, friends and community in disseminating public health messages through word of mouth; and (v) limited health literacy affecting compliance with public health orders. Community members identified important messages and resources had not been sufficiently distributed. Most HCPs understood the necessity of grassroots-level engagement but reported existing approaches were inadequate to navigate challenges. These findings highlight the need for public health promotion and communication strategies that consider both the social and cultural determinants of health. We propose a 7-point checklist as a cultural appropriateness lens to assist the development and rating of existing or new health promotion messaging and resources.

Assessing Environmental Health Hazard Awareness for Sustainability: A Survey of Adults in Saudi Arabia

Rapid modernization in Saudi Arabia has led to environmental challenges like pollution. Public understanding of pollutants is crucial for public participation in Saudi government efforts to monitor and mitigate impacts. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to assess the awareness and perceptions of environmental pollutants among 817 adults in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region. The online survey identified transportation and industrial emissions as widely recognized hazards, but there were gaps regarding risks like asbestos. Illegal dumping and junk houses were major concerns. Females had 1.86 times higher adjusted odds of concern about outdoor environmental risks compared to males (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.12–2.84; p = 0.004). Participants with high school education or above had significantly increased odds of concern about outdoor hazards, with 4.27 times higher odds for those with high school education (AOR: 4.27; 95% CI: 1.92–9.52; p < 0.001) and 3.51 times higher odds for those with university education or above (AOR: 3.51; 95% CI: 1.59–7.72; p = 0.002). Self-reported environmental interest was strongly associated with concern about outdoor and indoor air pollution, with 4.89 times higher adjusted odds of concern about outdoor air pollution (AOR: 4.89, 95% CI: 3.02–7.93, p < 0.001) and 2.86 times higher adjusted odds of concern about indoor air quality (AOR: 2.86, 95% CI: 2.86–4.47, p < 0.001). Overall, Jazan residents display general but incomplete awareness of health hazards, signaling a need for expanded educational efforts to improve consciousness of less visible pollutants. Effective public communication strategies built on these insights can strengthen societal environmental awareness in Saudi Arabia and promote sustainability.

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI PUBLIK BAZNAS BAZIS DKI JAKARTA PADA INSTAGRAM @BAZNASBAZISDKIJAKARTA

This article discusses the public communication strategy carried out by the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) of the DKI Jakarta Province Amil Zakat Infak Alms (Bazis) Agency which is carried out through Instagram media. This study uses a library research research method which is carried out by referring to journal articles, repositories, social media reports and all resources that can be accessed online with a qualitative descriptive design approach. The findings in this study are that the Public Communication strategy on Instagram carried out by Baznas Bazis DKI Jakarta is firstly Instagram as an effective medium, second, messages from figures, third, showing current trends, fourth, approach for singles, fifth, Friday blessing campaign. , sixth, weekend entertainment, seventh, pick-up service, outlets, up to official zakat cash, and eighth, alms to refuse the plague. The communication strategy carried out by Baznas Bazis DKI is part of the zakat campaign and dissemination of information related to zakat both to muzakki and mustahik with the Instagram social media approach.

Decoding COVID-19 Conversations with Visualization: Twitter Analytics and Emerging Trends

This study delves into the vast landscape of COVID-19 discussions on Twitter, aiming to unveil pertinent insights and emerging trends within this dynamic social media platform. Analyzing a substantial volume of Twitter data related to the pandemic, our research scrutinizes the content, sentiments, and patterns of conversations among users. By employing advanced analytics, we discern key themes, prevalent sentiments, and the evolution of discourse over time. This investigation not only provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse topics encompassed within COVID-19 discussions on Twitter but also sheds light on the trends shaping public opinion and awareness. The abstract scrutinizes the influencers and amplifiers within this virtual discourse, identifying pivotal accounts and trending hashtags that significantly contribute to the dissemination of information. Moreover, the study investigates the geographical and temporal variations in COVID-19 discussions, offering a nuanced understanding of how these conversations evolve across different regions and timeframes. As social media plays an increasingly central role in shaping public perceptions, this research aims to contribute valuable insights for policymakers, health organizations, and the public to comprehend the dynamics of COVID-19 communication on Twitter. Ultimately, by uncovering the insights and trends within these discussions, this study endeavours to enhance our understanding of the public discourse surrounding the pandemic and its implications for public health communication strategies.

Public Relations Communication Strategies In Improving Regional Image (Study of Lubuklinggau City Regional Government Public Relations)

This research discusses the public relations communication strategy of the Lubuklinggau city government in improving the image of the Lubuklinggau city government. This research aims to find out what communication strategies are used by Lubuklinggau city government public relations in improving the image of Lubuklinggau city government. This research is a qualitative descriptive study with data collection techniques used, namely interviews and observation. The results of the research concluded that Lubuklinggau city government public relations has implemented a public relations strategy, namely exploring the desires of the community, socializing the achievements of the Lubuklinggau city government through the media, managing relationships, developing strategies and developing networks. In accordance with its role, public relations is a tool used to establish good relations between the government, society, mass media and other agencies so that good cooperation occurs. From there, public relations carries out communication activities with the public, media and other agencies. This is done to improve the image within the institution. From these activities and strategies, a harmonious relationship was established between the community and the Lubuklinggau city government.
 Keywords: Strategy, Communication, Public Relations, Regional Image

Multimedia Center: Strategi Dinas Komunikasi Informasi Pengkodean dan Statistik Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah dalam Pengelolaan Informasi

Online media has become one of the media for disseminating accurate and fastest information to the public. The multimedia center is an online medium used by the Central Kalimantan Province Information, Coding, and Statistics Communication Service to manage information for the public. This research focuses on the public relations of the Central Kalimantan Province Information, Coding, and Statistics Communication Service in using communication strategies to manage information conveyed to the public through a multimedia center. This research was conducted to find out and describe the public relations communication strategy of the Information, Coding, and Statistics Communication Service. This research aims to find out how the public relations communication strategy of the Central Kalimantan Provincial Communication Information, Coding, and Statistics Service manages information through a multimedia center using descriptive qualitative research. Descriptive research is research that tries to understand the phenomena that occur at the Central Kalimantan Province Information Communication, Encryption, and Statistics Service regarding what the research subjects feel. Using Harold D. Laswel's communication strategy theory as reinforcement for the strategy used. The data sources in this research contain primary and secondary data. Primary data was generated through face-to-face interviews with the Public Relations of the Central Kalimantan Province Information, Coding, and Statistics Communication Service and public communications management staff. Meanwhile, secondary data was obtained through the Multimedia Center website, previous research, books, journals, and websites. This research utilizes a purposive sampling strategy; the data instruments used are in-depth interviews, observation, documentation, and the validity of the data and conclusions. By implementing this strategy, the Central Kalimantan Province Information, Coding, and Statistics Communication Service found

Tort tales and total justice: Exploring attitudes toward everyday tort claims for workplace injuries

AbstractDespite some retrenchment, the litigation state remains alive and well. All this litigation has engendered intense debates over whether increased lawsuits represent a rising tide of justice or a flood of frivolous claims. Tort law has been at the center of these debates for decades, standing at the fault line between “tort tale,” “total justice,” and “mixed” narratives about the perils and benefits of litigation. In this article, we use a survey experiment to probe attitudes toward claims for workplace injuries in light of these narratives. We find that our participants held multifaceted views. On one hand, they favored making claims over doing nothing or asking family members for help and saw lawsuits as equally appropriate as filing a government claim or hiring a lawyer to send a demand letter. On the other hand, tort tale themes cast a subtle shadow over our participants' views. When told claimants did not rush to the courts in defiance of tort tale expectations, our participants saw the lawsuit as more justified. Indeed, the more remedies exhausted prior to litigation, the more justifiable the lawsuit seemed, even though repeated denials of claims might undermine faith in their merits. The bottom line, we contend, is that attitudes toward litigation reflect not only the choice of remedy but also how remedies are used, even when the underlying claim is meritorious—a point that could be useful to practitioners and advocates as they weigh claiming options as well as litigation and public communication strategies.

A rapid review of current engagement strategies with people who use drugs in monitoring and reporting on substance use-related harms

BackgroundThe Canadian drug supply has significantly increased in toxicity over the past few years, resulting in the worsening of the overdose crisis. A key initiative implemented during this crisis has been data monitoring and reporting of substance use-related harms (SRH). This literature review aims to: (1) identify strategies used for the meaningful engagement of people who use drugs (PWUD) in local, provincial, and national SRH data system planning, reporting, and action and (2) describe data monitoring and reporting strategies and common indicators of SRH within those systems.MethodsWe searched three academic and five gray literature databases for relevant literature published between 2012 and 2022. Team members who identify as PWUD and a librarian at Public Health Ontario developed search strings collaboratively. Two reviewers screened all search results and applied the eligibility criteria. We used Microsoft Excel for data management.ResultsTwenty-two articles met our eligibility criteria (peer-reviewed n = 10 and gray literature reports n = 12); most used qualitative methods and focused on the Canadian context (n = 20). There were few examples of PWUD engaged as authors of reports on SRH monitoring. Among information systems involving PWUD, we found two main strategies: (1) community-based strategies (e.g., word of mouth, through drug sellers, and through satellite workers) and (2) public health-based data monitoring and communication strategies (e.g., communicating drug quality and alerts to PWUD). Substance use-related mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits were the indicators most commonly used in systems of SRH reporting that engaged PWUD.ConclusionThis review demonstrates limited engagement of PWUD and silos of activity in existing SRH data monitoring and reporting strategies. Future work is needed to better engage PWUD in these processes in an equitable manner. Building SRH monitoring systems in partnership with PWUD may increase the potential impact of these systems to reduce harms in the community.

REACHING YOUTH WITH RELIABLE INFORMATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: “SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SURE”

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, it is important to continue providing accurate updates and public health information to various target audiences. In support of such efforts, this study aims to understand how youth have accessed information about COVID-19 and to record their perspectives on how such information is best communicated. As part of a larger longitudinal study, 463 youth (M = 21.2 years, SD = 2.2) were surveyed about their sources of information on COVID-19, with qualitative questions regarding their perspectives on optimal public health communication strategies. A majority of youth reported using online sources to access information about COVID-19, including online news sources and social media. They used a diversity of such sources, with a preference those they regarded as reliable. Participants recommended that public health information campaigns be conducted on a variety of social media channels. Other digital campaigns were also recommended, while some suggested providing information through schools. Information should be brief, engaging, accessible, and frequently updated, using verified sources to ensure accuracy. We conclude that, to reach youth effectively, it is essential that accurate COVID-19 information and public health guidelines be disseminated in an engaging manner using digital means, particularly social media. Communication campaigns should be developed in partnership with youth in order to best reach this audience with the information they need.

Temporal and Emotional Variations in People's Perceptions of Mass Epidemic Infectious Disease After the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Influenza A as an Example: Topic Modeling and Sentiment Analysis Based on Weibo Data.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on society, including public health, the economy, daily life, and social interactions. Social distancing measures, travel restrictions, and the influx of pandemic-related information on social media have all led to a significant shift in how individuals perceive and respond to health crises. In this context, there is a growing awareness of the role that social media platforms such as Weibo, among the largest and most influential social media sites in China, play in shaping public sentiment and influencing people's behavior during public health emergencies. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sociospatial impact of mass epidemic infectious disease by analyzing the spatiotemporal variations and emotional orientations of the public after the COVID-19 pandemic. We use the outbreak of influenza A after the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. Through temporal and spatial analyses, we aim to uncover specific variations in the attention and emotional orientations of people living in different provinces in China regarding influenza A. We sought to understand the societal impact of large-scale infectious diseases and the public's stance after the COVID-19 pandemic to improve public health policies and communication strategies. We selected Weibo as the data source and collected all influenza A-related Weibo posts from November 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. These data included user names, geographic locations, posting times, content, repost counts, comments, likes, user types, and more. Subsequently, we used latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling to analyze the public's focus as well as the bidirectional long short-term memory model to conduct emotional analysis. We further classified the focus areas and emotional orientations of different regions. The research findings indicate that, compared with China's western provinces, the eastern provinces exhibited a higher volume of Weibo posts, demonstrating a greater interest in influenza A. Moreover, inland provinces displayed elevated levels of concern compared with coastal regions. In addition, female users of Weibo exhibited a higher level of engagement than male users, with regular users comprising the majority of user types. The public's focus was categorized into 23 main themes, with the overall emotional sentiment predominantly leaning toward negativity (making up 7562 out of 9111 [83%] sentiments). The results of this study underscore the profound societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. People tend to be pessimistic toward new large-scale infectious diseases, and disparities exist in the levels of concern and emotional sentiments across different regions. This reflects diverse societal responses to health crises. By gaining an in-depth understanding of the public's attitudes and focal points regarding these infectious diseases, governments and decision makers can better formulate policies and action plans to cater to the specific needs of different regions and enhance public health awareness.

Public perceptions of hydrogen hubs in Southwestern Pennsylvania

With the growing interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier and the federal-level investments in the development of hydrogen hubs in the United States, public perception and understanding of hydrogen and of regional hydrogen hubs will play a key role. The tri-state region of Southwestern Pennsylvania is a prime candidate for the development of such a hub. Because most people in the region have almost no familiarity with hydrogen, a modified mental models approach was developed. Eight participatory seminars were conducted over the course of five months in the greater Pittsburgh region to develop an initial understanding of likely public reactions. The study presents an overview of which advantages, disadvantages and uncertainties were mentioned across the group interviews, both as related to blue hydrogen and to a hypothetical hydrogen hub. While some discussions confirmed prior findings on public perception studies, we found that even when topics are not introduced by a facilitator, the interviews allowed participants the freedom to raise even advanced engineering topics independently. The groups were asked to identify which groups would be likely to support and oppose a hypothetical hub project. Participants’ responses displayed unique regional considerations. Based on the discussions observed, developing a cohesive public communication strategy between public and private sectors will need to account for both hydrogen production methods and, where relevant, associated technologies (such as carbon capture and sequestration). Lastly, regional differences are likely to play a role in determining the topics and communication strategy that would best address potential concerns of residents.

Undermining support for COVID-19 public health policies: an analysis of the impact of subversive conspiracy narratives on Czech General Practitioners.

Limited knowledge exists regarding the impact of COVID-19 conspiracy theories on the professional practice of general practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to identify the basic characteristics of GPs who endorse COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and compare their level of support for COVID-19 health policies with GPs who do not believe in conspiracies. Between January and February 2021, a representative online survey was conducted among 1163 GPs in the Czech Republic. The sample was designed to be representative of members of The Association of GPs of the Czech Republic. The survey revealed that nearly 14% of the GPs surveyed believed in one or more COVID-19 conspiracies. The average age of GPs who endorsed conspiracies was 58, which was higher than the rest of the sample (average age of 50). GPs who believed in conspiracies were less likely to support COVID-19 public health policies and therapy recommendations, including vaccination. Logistic and linear regression analyses indicated that doctors who believed in conspiracies were 2.62 times less likely to have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Mediation analysis showed that approximately one-quarter (23.21%) of the total effect of trust in government information on support for public health policies was indirectly mediated by the endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. The study findings suggest a concerning association between belief in COVID-19 conspiracies and a reduced level of support for public health policies among GPs. These results underscore the importance of incorporating the 'conspiracy agenda' into medical authorities' more effective public health communication strategies.