Exploring the Role of Trust in Scientists to Explain Health-Related Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has cast a light on the question of why trust in scientists is important. This mixed-method study aimed to explore the study participants' trust in scientists about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It also aimed to reveal which key sources of information participants followed about the pandemic. Participants' health-related behaviors and justifications for their behaviors as a response to the pandemic were also explored to understand how trust in scientists and sources of information played a role in the fight against COVID-19. The responses of 1233 participants across Turkey were analyzed. The findings indicated that trust in scientists and compliance with the scientists' suggested behaviors among the participants were quite high. It was also revealed that, for both trust and non-trust groups, participants questioned the reliability of information and the sources. Participants justified their behaviors mainly by referring to policies, e.g., masks, distance, and hygiene, developed and implemented with the collaboration of government, scientists, and the World Health Organization. Moreover, trust issues regarding scientists, government authorities, or other citizens were mentioned in participants' justifications. The current study also shed light on the importance of building trust through an open and healthy dialogue among scientists, government authorities, and the public to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlighted the need for scientifically informed citizens to deal with the problems, i.e., misinformation and disinformation, in the post-truth era such as not jeopardizing effective solutions to eliminate the pandemic, e.g., taking the vaccine.

Fig. 1

Percentage distribution of participants’ age

Fig. 2

Distributions of population and participants according to the regions in Turkey

Fig. 3

Number of reported cases and deaths^a

Fig. 4

Percentage distribution of sources of information

Fig. 5

Percentage of wearing mask, washing hands, and using cologne and disinfectant

Fig. 6

Percentage of home visits and going to market

Fig. 7

Percentage distribution of categories within the trust and the non-trust groups

Fig. 8

Percentage distribution of science-related codes among the trust and the non-trust groups

Fig. 9

Percentage distribution of policy-related subcodes among trust and non-trust groups