Anat Gesser?Edelsburg|Alon Diamant|Rana Hijazi|Gustavo S. Mesch
Correcting misinformation by health organizations during measles outbreaks: A controlled experiment
University of Haifa|University of Haifa|University of Haifa|University of Haifa
background epidemic crises information public receives social media misinformation health organizations required respond correct information gain publics trust influence follow recommended instructions objectives 1 examine ways health organizations correct misinformation concerning measles vaccination social networks two groups provaccination hesitant 2 examine types reactions two subgroups provaccination hesitant misinformation correction 3 examine effect misinformation correction two subgroups regarding reliability satisfaction selfefficacy intentions methods controlled experiment participants divided randomly two conditions experiment conditions dilemma presented sending child kindergarten followed identical facebook post voicing children mothers concerns third stage correction health organization presented differently two conditions condition 1 common information correction condition 2 recommended theorybased information correction mainly communicating information transparently addressing publics concerns study included n 243 graduate students faculty social welfare health sciences haifa university results statistically significant difference found reliability level attributed information correction health ministry control condition experimental condition sig0001 average reliability level subjects condition 2 568 considerably higher average reliability level subjects condition 1 464 significant difference found condition 1 condition 2 sig0001 average satisfaction health ministrys response condition 2 subjects 575 significantly higher average satisfaction level condition 1 subjects 466 similarly tested pro hesitant groups separately found preferred response presented condition 2 conclusion important organizations correct misinformation transparently address emotional aspects provaccination hesitant groups provaccination group captive audience requires full response addresses publics fears concerns