The ‘Fauci Effect’: Reducing COVID-19 Misconceptions and Vaccine Hesitancy Using an Authentic Multimodal Intervention

ABSTRACT: Social media environments enable users to proliferate misinformation surrounding COVID-19. Expert sources, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci have leveraged social media to present corrective multimedia messages. However, little is known about the efficacy of these messages in revising common misconceptions about COVID-19 and influencing behavior. In this study, we examined the efficacy of a multimodal intervention using authentic social media messages that directly addressed common COVID-19 misconceptions. Going further, we identified individual differences that influenced the effectiveness of the intervention, as well as whether those factors predicted individuals’ willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The results showed that the intervention was successful in increasing knowledge when compa

SUBMITTER: Johnson V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9221368 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature