Practical recommendations to communicate with patients about health‐related conspiracy theories

Marques, Mathew D.; Douglas, Karen M.; Jolley, Daniel

doi:10.5694/mja2.51475

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The core construct of our conceptual model centered on caregivers wanting to protect their children. Health providers may perceive fluoride-hesitant caregivers as being susceptible to conspiracy theories, and by extension, as low literacy, illogical, and uncaring [ 43 ]. While conspiracy theory type views were present in our interview data they were uncommon.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A conceptual model on caregivers’ hesitancy of topical fluoride for their children

Donald

Kerr²,

Nguyen³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Background Topical fluoride hesitancy is a well-documented and growing public health problem. Despite extensive evidence that topical fluoride is safe and prevents tooth decay, an increasing number of caregivers are hesitant about their children receiving topical fluoride, leading to challenges in clinical settings where caregivers refuse preventive care. Purpose To explore the determinants of topical fluoride hesitancy for caregivers with dependent children. Methods In this qualitative study, we interviewed 56 fluoride-hesitant caregivers to develop an inductive conceptual model of reasons why caregivers are hesitant. Results The core construct of the conceptual model of topical fluoride hesitancy centered on caregivers “wanting to protect and not mess up their child”. Six domains comprised this core construct: thinking topical fluoride is unnecessary, wanting to keep chemicals out of my child’s body, thinking fluoride is harmful, thinking there is too much uncertainty about fluoride, feeling pressured to get topical fluoride, and feeling fluoride should be a choice. Conclusions Topical fluoride hesitancy is complex and multifactorial. Study findings provide insight for future efforts to understand and optimize caregivers’ preventive care decision making.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A conceptual model on caregivers’ hesitancy of topical fluoride for their children

Donald

Kerr²,

Nguyen³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Given endorsement with health‐related conspiracy theories can be related to trust in medical authority, it seems important to primarily encourage the setting of a trustful and empathetic clinical relationship to lever the obstacles in the communication to discuss and prevent CBs (Marques et al., 2022). Indeed, a patient‐centred and empathetic communication can alleviate medical mistrust (Cuevas et al., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conspiracy beliefs and intention to use conventional, complementary and alternative medicines: Two vignette studies

Fournier,

Varet

2023

British J Health Psychol

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ObjectiveConspiracy beliefs (CBs) can have substantial consequences on health behaviours by influencing both conventional and non‐conventional medicine uptake. They can target powerful groups (i.e. upward CBs) or powerless groups (i.e. downward CBs). Considering their repercussions in oncology, it appears useful to understand how CBs are related to the intentions to use conventional, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM).Design and MethodsThis paper includes two pre‐registered online correlational studies on a general French population (Study 1 N = 248, recruited on social media Mage = 40.07, SDage = 14.78; 205 women, 41 men and 2 non‐binaries; Study 2 N = 313, recruited on social media and Prolific, Mage = 28.91, SDage = 9.60; 154 women, 149 men and 10 non‐binaries). We investigated the links between generic and chemotherapy‐related CBs and intentions to use conventional, complementary and alternative medicines. Study 2 consisted of a conceptual replication of Study 1, considering the orientation of CBs.ResultsGeneric CBs and chemotherapy‐related CBs appear strongly and positively correlated, negatively correlated with intentions to take conventional medicine and positively with intentions to take CAM. The link between generic CBs and medication intention is fully mediated by chemotherapy‐related CBs. When distinguished, upward CBs are a stronger predictor of chemotherapy‐related CBs than downward CBs.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that intentions to use medicine are strongly associated with CBs. This has several important implications for further research and practice, notably on the presence and effects of CBs on medication behaviours in cancer patients.

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“…When such misleading rhetoric is subsequently encountered, people are demonstrably more resistant to it than in the absence of inoculation [ 24 , 25 , 37 ]. Inoculation has been found to be effective in the context of misinformation relating to COVID-19 vaccines [ 26 , 50 ]. Numerous other avenues based on current psychological knowledge have been reviewed by [ 20 ].…”

Section: Public Policy and Conspiracies: The Case Of Mandates Trust A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Public policy and conspiracies: The case of mandates

Lewandowsky

Holford²,

Schmid³

2022

Current Opinion in Psychology

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Practical recommendations to communicate with patients about health‐related conspiracy theories

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

A conceptual model on caregivers’ hesitancy of topical fluoride for their children

A conceptual model on caregivers’ hesitancy of topical fluoride for their children

Conspiracy beliefs and intention to use conventional, complementary and alternative medicines: Two vignette studies

Public policy and conspiracies: The case of mandates

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