Medical mistrust in the context of Ebola: Implications for intended care-seeking and quarantine policy support in the United States

This investigation explores Ebola conspiracy beliefs, a form of medical mistrust, and their potential impact on health behavior. Results of an online survey in the United States in December 2014 demonstrated that 16 percent of 202 participants held conspiracy beliefs. Participants who were less know...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health psychology 2019-02, Vol.24 (2), p.219-228
Main Authors: Earnshaw, Valerie A, Bogart, Laura M, Klompas, Michael, Katz, Ingrid T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Americans - psychology
Attitude to Health
Conspiracy
Culture
Ebola virus
Female
Genocide - psychology
Health Behavior
Health Policy
Help seeking behavior
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - psychology
Humans
Infectious diseases
Intention
Male
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Professional-Patient Relations
Quarantine
Quarantine - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Trust
Trust - psychology
United States
Xenophobia - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:This investigation explores Ebola conspiracy beliefs, a form of medical mistrust, and their potential impact on health behavior. Results of an online survey in the United States in December 2014 demonstrated that 16 percent of 202 participants held conspiracy beliefs. Participants who were less knowledgeable about Ebola, more mistrustful of medical organizations, and more xenophobic more strongly endorsed conspiracy beliefs. Participants who more strongly endorsed conspiracy beliefs reported that they would be less likely to seek care for Ebola and were less supportive of quarantining people returning from West Africa. Results suggest that medical mistrust may influence health behaviors during infectious disease outbreaks.
ISSN:1359-1053
1461-7277
DOI:10.1177/1359105316650507