Alessandro Siani|Imogen Green
Scientific Misinformation and Mistrust of COVID-19 Preventive Measures among the UK Population: A Pilot Study
University of Portsmouth|University of Portsmouth
popularisation complex biomedical concepts brought covid19 led rapid proliferation diffusion scientific misinformation particularly among individuals inadequate levels scientific digital literacy crosssectional online survey uk population sample conducted address three key aims verify whether correlation participants belief false information around covid19 adherence preventive measures investigate whether participants scientific misinformation preventive behaviour associated demographic characteristics evaluate whether participants scientific misinformation preventive behaviour predict likelihood contracted covid19 nonparametric data analysis highlighted strong negative correlation participants belief misinformation trust preventive measures variables significantly associated participants education levels religious beliefs remarkably neither science misinformation levels trust preventive measures statistically associated likelihood contracted covid19 taken together findings reinforce urgency ensuring population equipped adequate scientific literacy enable evaluate reliability scientific information recognise importance individual preventive behaviours minimise community spread infectious diseases