First source for health information and vaccine conspiracy: pilot study from Serbia

Background

Healthcare professionals are trusted information sources, playing significant role in addressing vaccine and health misinformation. HLS19-VAC questionnaire is a 14-item perception-based vaccination health literacy measuring instrument. The aim was to determine if doctors and pharmacists serve as primary information source for vaccination and health topics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with validated HLS19-VAC_RS questionnaire on a convenience sample of the general population in Serbia. Health information sources were assessed via a 30-item questionnaire, alongside 3 vaccine conspiracy belief statements (immune system overload, disease causation, and serious adverse effects). Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were performed using SPSS v29.

Results

Of 406 respondents, 80.8% were female, 54.4% had secondary education and 29.1% had a chronic disease. Most could afford medicines easily (40.4% very easily, 41.9% somewhat easily). Gender and educational level were significantly associated with the primary information source for medicines (χ²=40.210, p < 0.001; χ²=23.476, p < 0.05, respectively) and the primary information source for diseases and health topics (χ²=32.546, p < 0.001; χ²=21.260, p < 0.05, respectively). Over 60% incorrectly believed that vaccines overload the immune system, cause the diseases they prevent or frequently cause serious adverse effects. The primary source of information about medicines was associated with all three vaccine conspiracy statements (χ²=50.024, χ²=22.437, χ²=24.423; p < 0.05), while for the primary information source for diseases and health topics significance was found only for belief that vaccines cause the diseases they prevent (χ²=23.964, p < 0.005).

Conclusions

The results indicate a high prevalence of vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs associated with information sources, gender and education, underscoring the need for evidence-based educational interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Key messages

• Vaccine conspiracy beliefs were highly prevalent and significantly associated with respondents’ primary health information sources.

• Gender and educational level influenced health information-seeking behavior, highlighting the need for targeted evidence-based communication.