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Memory for Flu Facts and Myths and Effects on Vaccine Intentions

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00296270
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : February 24, 2006
Last Update Posted : February 24, 2006
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
University of Michigan

Study Description
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Brief 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.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Influenza Vaccines Behavioral: Memory for truth Not Applicable

Detailed 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.

Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Enrollment : 175 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double
Primary Purpose: Educational/Counseling/Training
Official Title: "Myths and Facts" About the Flu: Health Education Campaigns Can Reduce Vaccination Intentions
Study Start Date : March 2005
Study Completion Date : June 2005

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus related topics: Flu Memory Vaccines

Arms and Interventions
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Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Memory for truth of information in a flyer.

Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Intention to get flu vaccine in upcoming season.

Eligibility Criteria
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 26 Years   (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must be able to read and write fluent English

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00296270


Locations
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United States, Michigan
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Canada, Ontario
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3E6
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Michigan
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Ian Skurnik, PhD Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
More Information
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00296270    
Other Study ID Numbers: RIR13914
First Posted: February 24, 2006    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: February 24, 2006
Last Verified: February 2006