糖心Vlog

Confusing COVID-19 messages led more than half of British people to believe 鈥渁t risk鈥� meant vulnerable groups were more likely to catch the virus, 糖心Vlog research has suggested.

The study showed ambiguous NHS statements meant the public misunderstood the threat posed by COVID-19 and possibly led to lower adherence to protective measures, such as social distancing and mask wearing.

Those studied understood that people at 鈥渉igher risk鈥� are more likely to be hospitalised, but Dr Marie Juanchich, from the Department of Psychology, says many also believed that people in this group are more likely to contract the virus and be contagious.

A consequence of this is they tended to believe the rest of the population - like children and younger adults - are less likely to catch the virus and spread it than the vulnerable.

The paper, , published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied - found once misconceptions had taken hold it was difficult to correct.

Dr Juanchich said: 鈥淚n any risk message, what exactly is at risk must be clearly specified.

鈥淔or example, for COVID-19, we talk about being at 鈥榟igher risk鈥� but it is not clear whether the risk is about the possibility of becoming infected by the virus or the possibility to be seriously ill.鈥�

As part of the study Dr Juanchich and colleague Dr Dawn Holford looked at NHS, American and Australian statements about the pandemic and found that they varied in levels of ambiguity.

The research specifically looked at the UK messaging which highlighted those aged 70 or older, pregnant women, and those with underlying conditions are 鈥渁t a higher risk鈥�.

It stated: 鈥淐oronavirus can make anyone seriously ill.

鈥淏ut some people are at a higher risk and need to take extra steps to avoid becoming unwell.鈥�

In contrast the US Government used a much clearer message.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said: 鈥淥lder adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID19 illness.鈥�

The research was launched weeks after Britain was plunged into lockdown in April 2020 and ran until February 2021 鈥� with 2,155 taking part as the nation was under varying restrictions.

On average 56 to 60 per cent of those surveyed thought higher risk meant a stronger possibility of infection.

It was discovered presenting a less ambiguous message was not enough to correct this misinterpretation as the misconception had already taken hold.

However, when the team created information about a new mock-virus and used clear messaging to spell out what 鈥榓t risk鈥� meant only 19 per cent made the same mistake.

It is now hoped the information uncovered by this research will help guide Government policy and shape future risk messaging around COVID-19 variants.

Clearer information could help support the roll-out of vaccination and other protective measures by disambiguating the risks involved.

This would help as well in explaining which risks different measures are targeting.

Dr Holford said: 鈥淏ecause ambiguous messages are difficult to correct once people have settled on their own interpretations, it would be better to present clear messaging about risks at the start of a new threat, before misinterpretations can occur.鈥�