Trust In Various Sources Research Articles

Attitudes of anabolic steroid users and non-users towards general practitioners in the United Kingdom

BackgroundResearch from past decades has suggested that anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are often sceptical of their physicians’ level of knowledge regarding AAS. We questioned whether contemporary British AAS users and non-AAS-using weightlifters would display similar distrust of their general practitioners. MethodsWe distributed anonymous questionnaires to 61 AAS-using and 106 non-AAS-using male British weightlifters at gymnasiums and via online social media sites. Respondents rated their general practitioners’ knowledge regarding health- and drug-related topics, using 10-point Likert scales from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). AAS users also rated their degree of trust in various sources of information about AAS, using similar scales, and were asked whether they had disclosed their AAS use to various categories of individuals. We then compared our findings with the results from a 2004 American study that had used virtually identical methodology. ResultsBoth AAS-using and non-using weightlifters rated their general practitioners favourably on knowledge of general health and disease, cigarette smoking, and alcohol, with mean scores ranging from 6.8 to 8.7. However, respondents scored their general practitioners significantly lower on knowledge of AAS, with mean ratings of 4.3 to 4.9 from AAS non-users and only 2.4 to 2.9 from users. Among various sources of information about AAS, users trusted their doctors significantly less than “underground” guides or Internet sites. Only 22 (36 %) of the AAS users had ever disclosed their use of these drugs to any physician. These findings closely resembled those of the earlier American study, with contemporary British men reporting even greater mistrust of their physicians on weightlifting- and AAS-related topics than their American counterparts. ConclusionDespite increasing AAS use worldwide and mounting evidence of the long-term dangers of these drugs, contemporary British weightlifters in general and AAS users in particular appear to remain distrustful of their physicians’ knowledge of fitness sports, performance-enhancing supplements, and especially AAS.

Multi-Institutional Analysis of Cancer Patient Exposure, Perceptions, and Trust in Information Sources Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during cancer treatment is controversial. We aim to evaluate contemporary CAM use, patient perceptions and attitudes, and trust in various sources of information regarding CAM. A multi-institutional questionnaire was distributed to patients receiving cancer treatment. Collected information included respondents' clinical and demographic characteristics, rates of CAM exposure/use, information sources regarding CAM, and trust in each information source. Comparisons between CAM users and nonusers were performed with chi-squared tests and one-way analysis of variance. Multivariable logistic regression models for trust in physician and nonphysician sources of information regarding CAM were evaluated. Among 749 respondents, the most common goals of CAM use were management of symptoms (42.2%) and treatment of cancer (30.4%). Most CAM users learned of CAM from nonphysician sources. Of CAM users, 27% reported not discussing CAM with their treating oncologists. Overall trust in physicians was high in both CAM users and nonusers. The only predictor of trust in physician sources of information was income >$100,000 in US dollars per year. Likelihood of trust in nonphysician sources of information was higher in females and lower in those with graduate degrees. A large proportion of patients with cancer are using CAM, some with the goal of treating their cancer. Although patients are primarily exposed to CAM through nonphysician sources of information, trust in physicians remains high. More research is needed to improve patient-clinician communication regarding CAM use.

Urban Youth of the European Sector of the Russian Arctic Zone: Behavior in the Information Space, Values and Political Orientations in 2021–2022 (case of Pomorie)

The article summarizes the data of sociological surveys of young people, mainly aged 18– 24 years, held in the European sector of the Arctic zone of Russia (main cities of the Arkhangelsk region) in 2021 and 2022. Survey was aimed to identifi cation of indicators of the behavior and preferences of the target group in the information space, trust in various sources of information, as well as its personal values and political orientations in the context of Special Military Operation in Ukraine. It has been revealed that the main source of information is the Internet, while information of a political nature is not the main object of interest for urban youth. A constant decline in the youth audience of TV as a channel for obtaining information, as well as a consistently low level of trust in the official media, were noted. In terms of personal values, the basic traditional institutions such as labor, family, love, friendship still retain relevance for the urban youth of the Russian Arctic (in the case of Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk). The amount of income is significant, but not the only main motive that determines the choice of a job. In the special political and international conditions after February 2022, young citizens of the Russian Federation in Pomorie, for the most part, remain optimistic about the future development of Russia and trust in state institutions, prospects for relations with Western countries. In general, the data obtained do not create grounds for assessing the urban youth of the European sector of the Russian Arctic (in the case of Pomorye) as a source of negative social potential that threatens political stability in the macroregion.

Covid-19 cure perceptions and media use in India

ABSTRACT Background During the early phases of Covid-19, social media platforms became a significant source of misinformation, and India emerged as a global hotspot. Studies show that ‘miracle cure’ for preventing and treating Covid-19 infection has been a prominent topic of misinformation. This study explores the extent to which beliefs in cure for Covid-19 in three prominent medical traditions popular in India are associated with the exposure to and trust in various sources from which the public access information. Methods We conducted an online structured questionnaire survey of 500 respondents in August 2020 in four major cities of India. Results Despite the scientific consensus at that time that there was no cure for Covid-19, close to three-quarters of our respondents believe that there was a cure in at least one of the three popular medical traditions in India: Allopathy, Homeopathy, and Ayurveda. We find that exposure to and trust in WhatsApp are associated with false beliefs regarding the existence of a cure for Covid-19 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively). While trust in science is associated with correct beliefs (p = 0.025), there is evidence that trust in government information may foster incorrect beliefs (p = 0.031). Conclusions The high trust in scientific research and its potential ability to instill correct beliefs could be exploited to combat Covid-19 misinformation in India. Potential interventions such as awareness campaigns to increase digital media literacy, regulating social media platforms, and voluntary content regulation by social media platforms – might help policymakers tackle Covid-19 related misinformation effectively.

Does partisan media make a pawn of mistrust? Institutional trust and preventive COVID‐19 health behaviors in a polarized pandemic

AbstractIn a rapidly developing crisis such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, people are often faced with contradictory or changing information and must determine what sources to trust. Across five time points (N = 5902) we examine how trust in various sources predicts COVID‐19 health behaviors. Trust in experts and national news predicted more engagement with most health behaviors from April 2020 to March 2022 and trust in Fox news, which often positioned itself as counter to the mainstream on COVID‐19, predicted less engagement. However, we also examined a particular public health behavior (masking) before and after the CDC announcement recommending masks on 3 April 2020 (which reversed earlier expert advice discouraging masks for the general public). Prior to the announcement, trust in experts predicted less mask‐wearing while trust in Fox News predicted more. These relationships disappeared in the next 4 days following the announcement and reversed in the 2 years that follow, and emerged for vaccination in the later time points. We also examine how the media trusted by Democrats and Republicans predicts trust in experts and in turn health behaviors. Broadly we consider how the increasingly fragmented epistemic environment has implications for polarization on matters of public health.

EU population's perception of the war in Ukraine

The article clarifies the EU population's perception of the war in Ukraine and identifies its cross-cultural features. The findings are based on the data of the survey “EU's response to the war in Ukraine”, conducted in April 2022 by Ipsos European Public Affairs at the request of the European Commission. The target population of the study is the citizens of the European Union member countries, aged 15 years and over (N = 26053). In the perception of the Russian-Ukrainian war, informational and activity-related aspects were distinguished. The first one included indicators of informational involvement (frequency of following and discussing news about the war in Ukraine) and trust in various sources of information (national authorities, European authorities, NGOs, journalists, and social media). The second one consisted of indicators of approval of measures announced by the EU (economic sanctions against Russia and Russian oligarchs, financial support to Ukraine, military and humanitarian aid, the ban on broadcasting in the EU of state-owned Russian media, welcoming in EU people feeling the war) and satisfaction with reactions of main actors (national authorities, the EU, NATO, UN, USA, citizens of own country). For cross-cultural comparison of various aspects of Russian-Ukrainian war perception, several macro indicators have been constructed. Common characteristics of the war perception in EU countries were a high frequency of following news and discussing it with friends and relatives, approval of main EU measures aimed at supporting Ukraine; great satisfaction with the reaction of the main actors to the events in Ukraine. People do not equally trust various sources of information and the ranking of sources according to their credibility has cross-cultural differences. The most reliable sources were national and EU authorities and fewer people trust NGOs and journalists. Social media were widely untrusted. At the same time, there are two main patterns of trust in various sources. The first one is a combination of distrust in social media with high trust in other sources. The second one is distrust in most or even all sources of information.

Trust in information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Romanian case study

Abstract Higher levels of trust in credible sources of information in times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic increase public compliance with official recommendations, minimizing health risks and helping authorities manage the crisis. Based on a national survey (N=1160), this article explores (a) actual levels of trust in various sources of information (government websites, legacy media, social media, and interpersonal communication) during the pandemic and (b) a number of predictors of such trust. Results show that during the period studied government websites were the most trusted source of information. Trust in an information source is correlated with consumption of COVID-19–related news from that specific source, media fact-checking, and self-perception about the incidence of COVID-19–related fake news. Only income and age are significant trust predictors, and only with respect to specific source types.

Information trust and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst middle-aged and older adults in Singapore: A latent class analysis Approach

RationaleCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy presents significant challenges for public health. ObjectiveVaccine hesitancy among middle-aged and older adults has been a significant barrier in Singapore's battle against COVID-19. We hypothesize that the trust middle-aged and older adults place in various sources of information influences vaccine hesitancy, and that distinct typologies of trust can be identified to better inform targeted health communication efforts. MethodData from a nationally representative panel survey of Singaporeans aged 56–75 (N = 6094) was utilized. Modules fielded in August and November 2020, and June 2021 were analyzed, assessing social networks, trust in sources of information, and vaccination status respectively. Predictors of vaccination status were first examined. Latent class analysis was then used to identify typologies of trust in various sources of information. ResultsTrust in formal sources of information (e.g government sources) is found to predict vaccination status among respondents. Contrary to expectations, trust in social media and informal sources (family and friends), and perceived social support did not predict vaccination status. Latent class analysis identified 4 typologies of respondents based on their patterns of trust in these sources. Significantly, it is found that a portion of respondents with low trust in formal sources of information have high trust in informal sources. The four distinct typologies of trust in sources of information are also found to predict vaccination status. ConclusionsBecause trust in formal sources of information influences vaccination status, authorities should build trust in such sources to encourage vaccination against COVID-19. However, health communication strategies with middle-aged and older adults who have low levels of trust in the formal sources may be more effective if authorities leveraged alternative channels such as informal sources, including the social networks of such individuals. Overall, the findings suggest the need for targeted communication strategies to encourage vaccination.

How people make decisions about whether or not to seek orthodontic care: Upstream in the treatment chain.

"Upstream" decisions by patients are important in determining whether they seek orthodontic care for their children and for themselves and whether they seek care from general dentists or from orthodontists. Classic marketing theory suggests that purchase decisions naturally progress through a sequence beginning with awareness and proceeding to information, emotional preferences, and final purchase commitment. A survey was used to assess patient demographics and care history, motives for seeking care for themselves and their children, perceived barriers to care, trust in various sources of information, and preference for treatment by a general dentist or by an orthodontist. Three hundred fifty-two responses were received from patients in all states in the United Sates attending their general dentists. Care for children was most often initiated in response to a suggestion from the family dentist, and traditional treatment with braces was expected. Adults were slightly more likely to make a decision for care themselves and for appearance reasons, often with "invisible" braces. Cost was the principal barrier to seeking care for either functional or appearance reasons. More personal and individualized sources of information, such as the family dentist or referral to a specialist were strongly more influential, with indirect sources, such as dentist Web pages or advertisements, being least influential. There was a preference for care by orthodontists compared with general dentists for functional reasons and when complications were anticipated. Orthodontists were seen as being better at identifying complications, managing complications, and delivering reliable results. Orthodontic care provided by general dentists was favored for convenience and based on established relationships. Patients with more education, higher incomes, and more preventive oral habits preferred treatment by orthodontists. Although it was expected that orthodontists would charge more, income and cost were not factors among those considering treatment. This study suggests that orthodontists should focus on educating potential patients about the functional health features of treatment for malocclusions, especially for children. Furthermore, orthodontists would benefit from working with general dentists, given their role as gatekeepers in the sequential process of reaching an upstream decision about seeking orthodontic care.

Communicating information on nature-related topics: Preferred information channels and trust in sources.

How information is communicated influences the public’s environmental perceptions and behaviors. Information channels and sources both play an important role in the dissemination of information. Trust in a source is often used as a proxy for whether a particular piece of information is credible. To determine preferences for information channels and trust in various sources for information on nature-related topics, a mail-out survey was sent to randomly selected U.S. addresses (n = 1,030). Diverse groups of people may have differing communication preferences. Therefore, we explored differences in channel preferences and trust by demographics using regression models. Overall, the most preferred channels were personal experience, reading online content, and watching visual media online. The most trusted sources were science organizations, universities, and friends/family. Channel preferences varied the most by education level and age, while source trust was most influenced by education, race, age, and size of current residence (rural-urban). The influence of demographics varied depending on the individual channel and source, with some groups preferring certain channels or sources but not others. Results are useful to consider when disseminating information on nature-related topics to a general public audience. More broadly, results also suggest spreading information using different channels and sources depending on the specific audience being targeted.

Public engagements with smog in urban China: Knowledge, trust, and action

Air pollution in China, increasingly known in policy circles and in popular discourse as “smog” (wumai), has aroused broad concern among citizens and in the international community. Although poor air quality has been a feature of urban life for decades in China, public engagement with the issue is a more recent phenomenon. In this article, we examine public knowledge and perceptions of smog, public trust in various sources of information about smog, and various actions, both individual and institutional, that people believe can be effective in managing and mitigating smog.We draw upon qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data collected in Tangshan, a heavily industrialized city in northern China. Our findings illustrate that smog, with its effects on human health and quality of life, is perceived as a serious concern that people encounter every day. Various information sources on the severity of air pollution, including online media content and mobile apps, are increasingly accessed by the public. Our findings suggest that trust in these information sources is shaped by a variety of demographic factors, especially educational attainment. We also find a sense of ambivalence among study participants about which specific individual and institutional measures can and should be taken to manage and mitigate the effects of smog. We discuss these findings in light of recent research on the role of public awareness and engagement in environmental protection campaigns.

CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING AND FUNCTIONALITY OF BELIEF: THE CASE OF VIĻAKA

<p><em>Students of the philology program at Rēzekne Higher Education Institution have been participating in field research since 2002. The subject of field research conducted in Viļaka – folk belief and superstition – was not chosen by chance. While conducting an expedition, information was received that Viļaka has several natural observers who study and record beliefs; however, during the period of field research only Vilis Bukšs, one of Latvia’s most famous naturalists, agreed to share his experiences. 58 respondents were surveyed in Viļaka, and 130 beliefs were recorded between 19 respondent interviews. </em></p><p><em>Linguoculturological and linguocognitological analysis principles were used in the research (Wierzbicka 1997, Krasnikh 2003, Maslova 2004, Sabimova 2013, Fattakhova, Kulkova 2015). As previously mentioned, the empirical material consists of Bukšs’ catalogue of beliefs (529 units), in addition to those collected in Viļaka (~130 units), illustrating comprehension on the part of the respondents of contemporary genres of belief.</em></p><p><em>The article is divided into two main sections: the genres and functions of beliefs, and Bukšs’ calendar of beliefs and language profile.</em></p><p><em>Contemporary belief is studied from the perspective of genre as well as language. There are various definitions that describe the genre of belief. In this article – belief is a genre of short folklore that influences human behavior, and which is primarily implicated in connection with natural phenomena, the qualities of objects and life events.</em></p><p><em>Estrangement from nature, trust in various sources of information and the negative, skeptical attitude of the church frames belief as meteorological, minimizing discourse of its ability to explain regularities in life; however, at the same time real superstitious beliefs are still clearly visible – premonitions associated with visceral reactions, vegetable planting, growth observations, etc., and the discourse of belief is certainly present for the people of Viļaka. In general, however, superstitions have lost their regulative and informative functions, and the prognostic function is more associated with a desire for peace of mind, rather than reliance upon self-evident assumptions to forecast the future.</em></p><p><em>Bukšs’ natural observation calendar shows that belief today is of fundamental importance to the world order, natural processes and the modeling and interpretation of human behavior.</em></p>

Design of a national and regional survey among French general practitioners and method of the first wave of survey dedicated to vaccination

ObjectivesFrance is currently facing a vaccine-hesitancy crisis. We conducted a questionnaire-based telephone interview with a large sample of general practitioners (GPs) as they play a crucial role in the vaccination process. Our main objectives were to study the GPs’ vaccination behaviors when it comes to their own vaccination and that of their relatives, and the vaccine recommendations made to their patients. We also aimed to understand their opinion related to the severity of vaccine-preventable diseases and to assess their trust in various sources of information. Finally, we enquired about their opinion in terms of vaccination-related tools that could help them in their daily practice. The article aimed to present the design of this panel and survey. Patients and methodsFour samples of GPs (one national and three regional) were selected among all the French GPs (metropolitan France) using random sampling. Five cross-sectional surveys should be conducted with that panel. The mean targeted sample size is 2350GPs for each survey. The survey dedicated to vaccination was conducted by telephone or on the Internet. ResultsGPs were included in the survey between December 2013 and February 2014. The national sample included 1582GPs (response rate: 46%) and the three regional samples included 1297GPs (response rate: 44%). The survey dedicated to vaccination was conducted between April and July 2014; the national sample response rate was 92% (1582/1712). ConclusionThe results of the first wave of surveys, conducted on a large sample of French GPs, provide important information to guide the French vaccination policy.

What predicts the trust of online health information?

OBJECTIVES:Little attention has been paid to levels of trust in online sources of health information. The objective of this study was to investigate levels of trust in various sources of health information (interpersonal channels, traditional media, and Internet media), and to examine the predictors of trust in health information available on the Internet.METHODS:A questionnaire was administered to 1,300 people (20 years of age or older), evaluating levels of trust in various sources of health information.RESULTS:The highest level of trust was expressed regarding interpersonal channels, with hospital physicians regarded as the most trusted source of information age and income showed an association with trust in online information sources. Elderly people were not likely to trust Internet news sources, and high incomes were found to be strongly associated with trust in online sources of information overall.CONCLUSIONS:Public health organizations must consider the predictors for trust in various sources of information in order to employ appropriate media when targeting vulnerable individuals or developing messaging strategies for health professionals.

Poster 126: Health Literacy and Trust in Sources of Quality Information

Objective: Health care reform legislation mandates public reporting of quality information from rehabilitation hospitals after 2014. Several sources already report quality information, including hospital websites and brochures and newsmagazines like US News & World Report. We surveyed potential consumers of rehabilitation services to measure their health literacy and levels of trust in various sources of quality information. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Community and senior centers. Participants: Convenience sample of 139 individuals aged 40 and older.

Determinants of consumers' willingness to accept GM foods

This paper investigates Willingness to Accept (WTA) Genetic Modification (GM) foods based on experimental auctions carried out in the USA, UK and France. It explores perceptions of risk and benefits, moral concerns and their antecedents, attitudes to the environment and technology and trust in various sources using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Trust in information provided by industry proved to be the most important determinant of risk/benefit perceptions and WTA followed by general attitudes to the environment and technology. Education and age are also enhance perceived benefits and lower perceived risks of GM. Perception of risk/benefit and moral concerns all have significant effects on consumers' WTA but the perceived benefits are most important. The research suggests that trust-building by industry would be the most effective in enhancing GM acceptance.

Pathways to evidence-based knowledge in orthopaedic surgery: an international survey of AO course participants

The aim of this study was to gain information about how orthopaedic surgeons use evidence-based literature and how this is influenced by their knowledge of evidence-based medicine. We administered a questionnaire to participants at courses of the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO-ASIF) in Davos, Switzerland, in December 2003. Special attention was paid to the surgeons' educational level, affiliations, and the infrastructure and evidence sources they used. In addition, we tested participants on their knowledge and attitude to evidence-based orthopaedic surgery (EBOS). Of 1,274 course participants, 456 completed the questionnaire. Of 446 respondents, 300 had heard of EBOS, but only 45% could define it correctly. Nearly two thirds identified scientific publications as their main source of scientific knowledge. The respondents' attitudes to and awareness of EBOS principles was high, but it did not influence their manner of searching for scientific information or their trust in various sources of recommendations.

Anabolic steroid users' attitudes towards physicians.

To assess anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users' trust in the knowledge and advice of physicians. Interviews of AAS users and non-users. Research offices. Eighty weight-lifters (43 AAS users, 37 non-users) recruited by advertisement in Massachusetts and Florida, USA. Personal interviews and questionnaire responses, including subjects' ratings of physicians' knowledge regarding various health- and drug-related topics. AAS users also rated their level of trust in various sources of information about AAS. Both groups of subjects gave physicians high ratings on knowledge about general health, cigarette smoking, alcohol, and conventional illicit drugs, but gave physicians markedly and significantly lower ratings on knowledge about AAS. When rating sources of information on AAS, users scored physicians as no more reliable than their friends, Internet sites, or the person(s) who sold them the steroids. Forty percent of users trusted information on AAS from their drug dealers at least as much as information from any physician that they had seen, and 56% had never revealed their AAS use to any physician. AAS users show little trust in physicians' knowledge about AAS, and often do not disclose their AAS use to physicians. These attitudes compromise physicians' ability to educate or treat AAS users. Physicians can respond to these problems by learning more about AAS and by maintaining a high index of suspicion when evaluating athletic male patients.