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Memory for Flu Facts and Myths and Effects on Vaccine Intentions

NCT ID: NCT00296270

Last Updated: 2006-02-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

175 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-03-31

Study Completion Date

2005-06-30

Brief Summary

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Objectives: To determine whether people systematically misremember the "myths" (false information) as true, and to assess effects on perceptions of risk and behavioral intentions.

Detailed Description

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Public information campaigns often warn people about false and unreliable medical claims by juxtaposing "myths" and "facts." The effectiveness of such communications has rarely been assessed. We assessed whether people systematically misremember the "myths" (false information) as true, and to assess effects on perceptions of risk and behavioral intentions.

In an experimental study, participants read either a published CDC flyer on "Facts and Myths" about the flu vaccine, or a "Facts Only" version; a separate control group read no flyer. Participants completed the outcome measures either immediately or after 30 minutes.

Primary measures were memory for information about the flu presented in the flyer, ratings of perceived risks associated with the flu, and personal intentions to get vaccinated in the upcoming season.

After a delay of 30 minutes, participants who read the "Facts and Myths" flyer systematically misremembered myths as facts. Both versions of the flyer had the immediate effect of increasing intentions to get a flu vaccine, compared to the control group. After 30 minutes, however, participants who read the "Facts and Myths" flyer reported lower intentions to get vaccinated, compared to those who read the same flyer with no delay, and compared to all participants who read the "Facts Only" flyer.

In sum, people show a bias to think that incompletely remembered information is true, turning "myths" into "facts." Hence public information campaigns should emphasize information that is true. Repeating false information, even as a warning, can create the unintended consequence of belief in the information.

Conditions

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Influenza Vaccines

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

ECT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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Memory for truth

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Must be able to read and write fluent English

Exclusion Criteria

\-
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

26 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Michigan

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Ian Skurnik, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Locations

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University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Site Status

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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United States Canada

Other Identifiers

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RIR13914

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id