Fam te Poel, Annemiek J. Linn, Susanne E. Baumgartner, Liset van Dijk, Eline S. Smit

Sick for Information?

Introduction

Sick for information? . Explore Dutch public's COVID-19 health info needs and media use during early pandemic. Age & education affect source choice, vital for optimizing public health communication strategies.

Abstract

During a pandemic outbreak, timely and accurate information that matches the information needs of the public is vital to inform the public. In April 2020, 977 individuals completed a questionnaire that measured the Dutch public’s health information needs and media consumption during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. Results show that respondents sought information about prevention of contamination, (the severity of) symptoms, treatment, and vaccination. News outlets, both online and offline, were the most preferred sources for information. Older people were more likely to search for information in traditional media, such as on TV, in newspapers, and on the radio. Younger people more often used news websites to find information. Respondents with lower levels of education obtained information via TV more frequently than respondents with higher levels of education, who in turn used newspapers more frequently. This study, guided by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, was conducted during the early stages of the pandemic in the Netherlands to provide information that public health officials and governments can use to optimise information provision during pandemics. Presently, news media have the highest degree of coverage and impact and should thus be used first to convey reliable information.

Review

This timely study, "Sick for Information?", addresses the crucial role of information dissemination during a pandemic, a topic of paramount importance following the global COVID-19 outbreak. By surveying 977 individuals in the Netherlands during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020, the research effectively captures initial public health information needs and media consumption patterns. Guided by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, the authors employed a questionnaire-based approach to gather insights into what information the public sought and where they preferred to find it, offering a valuable snapshot of a critical period. The study's findings reveal distinct and actionable insights. Respondents primarily sought information concerning contamination prevention, symptoms, treatment, and vaccination, highlighting specific areas where public health messaging is most desired. Crucially, news outlets, encompassing both online and offline platforms, emerged as the most preferred sources for health information. Furthermore, the research uncovered significant demographic variations: older individuals leaned towards traditional media (TV, newspapers, radio), while younger cohorts gravitated towards news websites. Similarly, education level influenced media choice, with individuals of lower educational attainment more frequently using TV, while those with higher education more often relied on newspapers. These differentiations underscore the necessity of a multi-channel communication strategy. The implications of this research are significant for public health officials and governments striving to optimize information provision during future crises. The clear recommendation to leverage news media first, given their high coverage and impact, is well-supported by the findings. While the abstract presents a robust overview of information needs and media preferences, future work could further explore the perceived trustworthiness of these sources, the evolution of information needs over the entire course of a pandemic, and the potential impact of misinformation on these patterns. Nonetheless, this study provides a strong foundational understanding for developing targeted and effective communication strategies crucial for public health preparedness and response.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.