In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, how people in Oman got their information made a big difference.  A survey was conducted in the fall of 2020.  It looked at how people in Oman consumed information about COVID-19.  The survey had 759 participants.  They were asked about their knowledge of COVID-19.  They were also asked about misinformation.  They were asked about fact-checking.  They were asked about their trust in information sources.  They were asked about their trust in institutions.  They were asked about their intentions to get vaccinated.

The survey found that people in Oman had different ways of getting information.  Some people actively sought out information.  Others just came across it by chance.  The survey put people into four groups.  The first group was low scanners and no seekers.  The second group was low scanners and seekers.  The third group was high scanners and no seekers.  The fourth group was high scanners and seekers.

The high scanners and seekers had the most knowledge about COVID-19.  They also had the most trust in the government and social media.  They had the most confidence in how institutions handled the crisis.  The low scanners and no seekers had the least knowledge and trust.  The high scanners and no seekers were the most likely to believe misinformation and conspiracy theories.

Social media was a double-edged sword.  It was a trusted source of information.  It was also a way misinformation spread.  The survey showed that trust was key.  It was a big factor in whether people wanted to get vaccinated.  The high scanners and seekers were more likely to want to get vaccinated.  They trusted the information they found.

The survey showed that it is important to understand how people get information.  This is especially true during a crisis.  People who actively seek out information are more likely to be knowledgeable and trust institutions.  They are also more likely to follow public health guidelines.  People who just come across information by chance are more likely to believe misinformation.  They are less likely to trust institutions.  They are less likely to follow public health guidelines.

To improve public health, it is important to target different groups.  Interventions can help people who passively consume information.  They can help them avoid misinformation.  Social media campaigns can encourage fact-checking and digital literacy.  This can help bridge knowledge gaps and improve public health compliance.  It is important to understand how people get information.  This can help during crises and improve public health outcomes.

How Omanis Got Their COVID-19 Info and What It Means

Actions