TY - JOUR AU - Memenga, Paula AU - Eitze, Sarah AU - Shamsrizi, Parichehr AU - Addo, Marylyn M. AU - Betsch, Cornelia PY - 2022/09/22 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Debunking Misinformation and Communicating Critical Events in Vaccine Trials: Experimental Evidence on Vaccination Intentions in SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic JF - European Journal of Health Communication JA - EJHC VL - 3 IS - 2 SE - Original Research Paper DO - 10.47368/ejhc.2022.204 UR - https://ejhc.org/article/view/3143 SP - 64-96 AB - <p>Misinformation and media reports about critical events in vaccine trials challenge public confidence in Covid-19 vaccine safety. Three online experiments using 2×2 between-subjects designs examined the impact of vaccine type, misinformation debunking, and critical events during vaccine trials. In Experiment 1, <em>N</em> = 984 participants received information about different vaccines and misinformation was debunked. In Experiment 2, <em>N</em> = 1,018 participants were informed about different vaccines and trial discontinuation. In Experiment 3, <em>N</em> = 1,006 participants received information about discontinuation and questionable research practices of a manufacturer. The main dependent variables were confidence in vaccine safety, vaccination intention, and willingness to participate in a vaccine trial. Debunking increased vaccination intention and confidence (both η<sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = .01) which was partly higher for classical than for new vaccines (η<sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub>  = .01). Information about discontinuation had no effect, but having heard about it before had benefits. Information about questionable research practices decreased confidence ( η<sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = .01) and vaccination intention ( η<sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = .02) regarding the target vaccine but did not affect other vaccines. Confidence (β<em> = </em>.47) was most strongly associated with willingness to participate in vaccine trials. Critical events in vaccine trials should be communicated transparently to increase confidence, trial participation, and vaccination intentions.</p> ER -