Memory for Flu Facts and Myths and Effects on Vaccine Intentions

Influenza Vaccines Clinical Trial

Official title:

"Myths and Facts" About the Flu: Health Education Campaigns Can Reduce Vaccination Intentions

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00296270
• Other study ID #: RIR13914
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: February 23, 2006
• Last updated: February 23, 2006
• Start date: March 2005
• Est. completion date: June 2005

Study information

• Verified date: February 2006
• Source: University of Michigan
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Institutional Review BoardUnited States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

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

Description:

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 175
• Est. completion date: June 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 26 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be able to read and write fluent English

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Educational/Counseling/Training

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Influenza Vaccines

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Memory for truth

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto	Toronto	Ontario
United States	University of Michigan	Ann Arbor	Michigan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Michigan

Countries where clinical trial is conducted

United States,  Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Memory for truth of information in a flyer.
Secondary	Intention to get flu vaccine in upcoming season.