33. Perceptions of Social Media Health Mis- and Disinformation with Cancer Beliefs
Invited abstract in session MC-4: Analytics for Mis/Disinformation in Healthcare, stream Regular talks.
Monday, 11:00-12:30Room: Room S3
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Jim Stimpson
|
| UT Southwestern Medical Center |
Abstract
Objective: We evaluated how perceptions of social media health mis and disinformation were associated with cancer beliefs.
Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey 6. Outcome variables were level of trust in cancer information and worry about COVID-19 that would delay a cancer screening test. Independent variable was perceptions of false or misleading health information on social media.
Results: Perception of substantial social media health mis- and disinformation was associated with a lower likelihood of trusting cancer information from government health agencies (OR = .60; 95% CI = .47, .77), family or friends (OR = .56; 95% CI = .44, .71), charitable organizations (OR = .78; 95% CI = .63, .96), and religious organizations and leaders (OR = .64; 95% CI = .52, .79). There was not an association with levels of trust in credible sources of cancer information such as doctors or scientists. Perceiving substantial misinformation was associated with a 7% lower probability of worry about covid that delay a cancer screening test. Persons that perceived substantial misinformation and were worried about getting cancer were the most likely to worry about covid and delay a cancer screening test (26%; 95% CI = 23-30%).
Conclusion: Cancer beliefs varied by perceptions of social media health mis- and disinformation with the potential to harm public health efforts in cancer prevention and control.
Keywords
- Screening and prevention
Status: accepted
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