COVID-19 Misinformation Trends in Australia: Prospective Longitudinal National Survey.

Pickles, K; Cvejic, E; Nickel, B; Copp, T; Bonner, C; Leask, J; Ayre, J; Batcup, C; Cornell, S; Dakin, T; Dodd, RH; Isautier, JMJ; McCaffery, KJ

COVID-19 Misinformation Trends in Australia: Prospective Longitudinal National Survey.

Pickles, K Cvejic, E Nickel, B Copp, T Bonner, C Leask, J Ayre, J

Batcup, C Cornell, S Dakin, T Dodd, RH Isautier, JMJ McCaffery, KJ

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Publisher:: JMIR Publications
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2021, 23, (1)
Issue Date:: 2021-01-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Pickles, K
dc.contributor.author	Cvejic, E
dc.contributor.author	Nickel, B
dc.contributor.author	Copp, T
dc.contributor.author	Bonner, C
dc.contributor.author	Leask, J
dc.contributor.author	Ayre, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5279-5189
dc.contributor.author	Batcup, C
dc.contributor.author	Cornell, S
dc.contributor.author	Dakin, T
dc.contributor.author	Dodd, RH
dc.contributor.author	Isautier, JMJ
dc.contributor.author	McCaffery, KJ
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-09T02:16:11Z
dc.date.available	2020-12-09
dc.date.available	2021-11-09T02:16:11Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01-07
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2021, 23, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	1438-8871
dc.identifier.issn	1438-8871
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151427
dc.description.abstract	Background: Misinformation about COVID-19 is common and has been spreading rapidly across the globe through social media platforms and other information systems. Understanding what the public knows about COVID-19 and identifying beliefs based on misinformation can help shape effective public health communications to ensure efforts to reduce viral transmission are not undermined. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 misinformation in Australia and their changes over time. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal national survey was completed by adults (18 years and above) across April (n=4362), May (n=1882), and June (n=1369) 2020. Results: Stronger agreement with misinformation was associated with younger age, male gender, lower education level, and language other than English spoken at home (P<.01 for all). After controlling for these variables, misinformation beliefs were significantly associated (P<.001) with lower levels of digital health literacy, perceived threat of COVID-19, confidence in government, and trust in scientific institutions. Analyses of specific government-identified misinformation revealed 3 clusters: prevention (associated with male gender and younger age), causation (associated with lower education level and greater social disadvantage), and cure (associated with younger age). Lower institutional trust and greater rejection of official government accounts were associated with stronger agreement with COVID-19 misinformation. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight important gaps in communication effectiveness, which must be addressed to ensure effective COVID-19 prevention.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	JMIR Publications
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Medical Internet Research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.2196/23805
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	08 Information and Computing Sciences, 11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Medical Informatics
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Computer Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Consumer Health Information
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Multivariate Analysis
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Trust
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Multivariate Analysis
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Trust
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Computer Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Consumer Health Information
dc.subject.mesh	Health Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Computer Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Consumer Health Information
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Literacy
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Multivariate Analysis
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Trust
dc.title	COVID-19 Misinformation Trends in Australia: Prospective Longitudinal National Survey.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	23
utslib.location.activity	Canada
utslib.for	08 Information and Computing Sciences
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-11-09T02:16:10Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	23
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Background: Misinformation about COVID-19 is common and has been spreading rapidly across the globe through social media platforms and other information systems. Understanding what the public knows about COVID-19 and identifying beliefs based on misinformation can help shape effective public health communications to ensure efforts to reduce viral transmission are not undermined. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 misinformation in Australia and their changes over time. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal national survey was completed by adults (18 years and above) across April (n=4362), May (n=1882), and June (n=1369) 2020. Results: Stronger agreement with misinformation was associated with younger age, male gender, lower education level, and language other than English spoken at home (P<.01 for all). After controlling for these variables, misinformation beliefs were significantly associated (P<.001) with lower levels of digital health literacy, perceived threat of COVID-19, confidence in government, and trust in scientific institutions. Analyses of specific government-identified misinformation revealed 3 clusters: prevention (associated with male gender and younger age), causation (associated with lower education level and greater social disadvantage), and cure (associated with younger age). Lower institutional trust and greater rejection of official government accounts were associated with stronger agreement with COVID-19 misinformation. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight important gaps in communication effectiveness, which must be addressed to ensure effective COVID-19 prevention.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151427