Related Experiment Videos
"Influenza" versus "Flu": Do Different Medical Terms Affect Vaccination Intention?
Christopher L Cummings1, Wei Yi Kong1
1a Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
Journal of Health Communication
|June 28, 2019
Summary
Using "influenza vaccine" instead of "flu shot" significantly increases people's intention to get vaccinated. Formal terminology in health campaigns may be more effective for promoting protective behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Communication
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Disease terminology confusion can reduce risk perception and protective behaviors.
- Influenza vaccination campaigns globally use varied terminology, from formal "influenza vaccine" to colloquial "flu shot."
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if medical term choice ("influenza vaccine" vs. "flu shot") impacts vaccination intentions.
- To determine the effectiveness of formal versus colloquial terms in health communication for influenza vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Online experiment with 896 Singapore residents.
- Chi-square test to analyze the influence of different terms on vaccination intention.
Main Results:
- The formal term "influenza vaccine" significantly increased vaccination intention compared to "flu shot."
- This effect was observed even without additional information about the disease or vaccine.
Conclusions:
- "Influenza vaccine" is more advantageous than "flu shot" for encouraging vaccination.
- Using precise medical terms in health campaigns can enhance behavioral adoption.
- Avoid interchanging these terms in communication to maximize public health impact.