Public information needs and preferences on COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created an information overload, challenging the public's ability to find reliable, understandable, evidence-based information.
• This underscored the need to understand public information needs and preferences for informed decision-making during health crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the general public's information needs and preferences concerning COVID-19.
• To identify barriers hindering access to evidence-based health information.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 636 participants from the HeReCa-online-panel in Germany (12/2020-02/2021).
• The survey utilized multiple-choice and open-ended questions to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on COVID-19 information.
• Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data underwent content analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants showed high interest in vaccination (63.8%), infection control (52%), and long-term effects (47.8%).
• Traditional media (TV, radio) were preferred over social media, though internet sources were also utilized.
• Significant barriers included lack of time (30.7%), information complexity (23.9%), and uncertainty on access (22.2%).
• General knowledge about the pandemic's impact in Europe was low (7.5% correct answers).

Conclusions:

• The general population exhibits substantial information needs across various COVID-19 aspects.
• Effective, target-specific dissemination strategies are crucial to improve access to evidence-based health information for diverse population groups.