Dear HIFA colleagues,
Further to Boris Bikbov's message just now, I asked ChatGPT to prepare a plain-language summary of his paper (below). I would be grateful if Boris could please review it for any inaccuracies.
CITATION: Willingness to share contacts in case of COVID-19 positivity – predictors of collaboration resistance in a nation-wide Italian survey
Boris Bikbov et al. PLOS One. Published: September 27, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274902
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
This study explored the reasons why some people in Italy were unwilling to share their contact information for COVID-19 tracing. Based on a nationwide survey in early 2021, the authors identified several factors that made people hesitant to collaborate, and the study provided insights into how to address these challenges for public health efforts.
Key Findings:
5.5% of respondents said they wouldn’t share contacts if they tested positive for COVID-19, though this number varied widely among different groups.
Main factors influencing unwillingness included:
Fear of personal relationships being disturbed (50% of those unwilling to share contacts)
Distrust of authorities (nearly 30%)
Economic concerns (25%)
Fear of stigmatization (10%)
Some key predictors of unwillingness:
People who didn’t intend to get tested if exposed to COVID-19 were more likely to refuse contact sharing (OR 5.60).
Those who disagreed with government measures like self-isolation or the national vaccination schedule were also more likely to avoid contact tracing.
Difficulties understanding government information (like COVID-19 rules and restrictions) made people less likely to share contacts.
The study also found that people who were more proactive in searching for accurate COVID-19 information were more likely to cooperate.
Trust and Information:
Trust in health authorities was a major factor. People who trusted the government and health institutions were much more likely to share contacts.
Misinformation was another issue. Many people distrusted information from non-authoritative sources (like social media), preferring expert advice.
Personal Experience:
Personal experience with COVID-19 (either having had it or knowing someone who did) made people more willing to share contacts.
However, some people feared economic losses from quarantine or the social stigma of being seen as an infected person, which discouraged them from cooperating.
Unexpected Patterns:
Interestingly, some people with optimistic personalities or those who felt physically healthy were less likely to share contacts.
People with rigid opinions (including those who wouldn’t be swayed by new information) were also more reluctant to cooperate.
Limitations:
The study was internet-based, so it didn’t capture the experiences of vulnerable groups like the homeless, people with disabilities, or migrants.
The survey didn’t ask about income or profession, which could also influence willingness to share contacts.
Conclusions:
The study highlights several factors that influence people's willingness to cooperate with contact tracing, including trust in health authorities, economic concerns, and fear of stigmatization. Addressing these issues, especially through better communication and support, could improve participation in future public health efforts, not just for COVID-19 but also for potential future health crises.
Many thanks, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org