Mpox knowledge in the U.S.: Results from a nationally representative survey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Education

Background:

• Mpox (mpox) outbreaks necessitate understanding public knowledge for effective prevention.
• Assessing mpox knowledge is crucial for tailoring public health communication and interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scale for assessing mpox knowledge among U.S. adults.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the mpox knowledge scale.
• To identify demographic disparities in mpox knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A national Internet-based survey of 1,018 U.S. adults (≥18 years) using address-based sampling.
• A 15-item mpox knowledge scale with scoring for correct, incorrect, and "I don't know" responses.
• Psychometric analysis, reliability testing (Cronbach's alpha = .82), and weighted statistical comparisons across demographic groups.

Main Results:

• The 15-item scale demonstrated strong reliability and item validity.
• Only 35% of respondents possessed "good" mpox knowledge (≥9/15 correct answers).
• Significant knowledge disparities were observed across racial/ethnic, education, income, sexual orientation, and metropolitan status groups.

Conclusions:

• The developed mpox knowledge scale is a reliable tool for assessing public understanding.
• Low mpox knowledge, particularly among specific demographic groups, underscores the need for targeted health education.
• Findings can inform the development of effective mpox prevention and control strategies.