Introduction
Information seeking
Concerns and fear
Trust and mistrust
Political ideology
Methods
Participants
Data collection
Dependent variable
Factors contributing to willingness to participate in contact tracing
Independent variables: predictors of willingness to participate in contact tracing
Questions | Median (IQR)a | Overall Cronbach’s alpha (95% CI)b | |
---|---|---|---|
Willingness to participate in contact tracing | Comfort with and willingness to participate in contact tracing (Range: 1 = Not true at all; 7 = Very true) | 5 (7–3.7) | 0.87 (0.85, 0.88) |
For you, how true are the following statements (Range: 1 = Not true at all; 7 = Very true) | |||
I would feel comfortable reporting people I have been in contact with to the local or state health department if I had symptoms of the coronavirus | 6 (7–4) | ||
I would be comfortable using a computer or phone app that shares my symptom information with my local or state health department | 5 (6–3) | ||
I am willing to give my local or state health department personal information to help limit the spread of the coronavirus | 5 (6–4) | ||
Information seeking | Thinking about some of the ways you get information about the coronavirus outbreak, would you say that you get information from each of the following sources? | ||
Get information from public health institutions (Range: 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly) | 2 (2.3–1.3) | 0.68 (0.65, 0.72) | |
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) | 2 (3–1) | ||
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services | 2 (3–1) | ||
County Health Department | 1 (2–1) | ||
Information seeking | Get information from national left leaning media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly) | 1 (1.5–1) | 0.78 (0.76, 0.80) |
CBS News | 1 (2–1) | ||
MSNBC | 1 (2–1) | ||
ABC News | 1 (2–1) | ||
New York Times | 1 (2–1) | ||
The Daily Show or Colbert Report | 1 (2–1) | ||
The Washington Post | 1 (2–1) | ||
Information seeking | Get information from national right leaning media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly) | 1 (1.3–1) | 0.61 (0.56, 0.65) |
Fox News | 1 (2–1) | ||
Rush Limbaugh Show | 1 (1–1) | ||
Information seeking | Get information from local media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly) | 1 (1.5–1) | 0.75 (0.72, 0.77) |
Detroit Free Press | 1 (2–1) | ||
Detroit News | 1 (1–1) | ||
MLive | 1 (1–2) | ||
Lansing State Journal | 1 (1–1) | ||
Information seeking | Regardless of how often you get information from these sources, how much do you trust information provided about the coronavirus outbreak by each of the following? | ||
Trust information from public health institutionsc (Range: 1 = Not at all; 5 = A great deal) | 3.7 (4.3–2.7) | 0.85 (0.84, 0.87) | |
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) | 4 (5–3) | ||
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services | 4 (5–3) | ||
County Health Department | 3 (4–2) | ||
Information seeking | Trust information from national left-centralist media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Not at all; 5 = A great deal) | 2.5 (3.5–1.3) | 0.93 (0.92, 0.94) |
CBS News | 3 (4–1) | ||
MSNBC | 2 (4–1) | ||
ABC News | 3 (4–1) | ||
New York Times | 3 (4–1) | ||
The Daily Show or Colbert Report | 2 (3–1) | ||
The Washington Post | 2 (4–1) | ||
Information seeking | Trust information from national right leaning media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Not at all; 5 = A great deal) | 1.5 (3–1) | 0.77 (0.74, 0.80) |
Fox News | 2 (3–1) | ||
Rush Limbaugh Show | 1 (2–1) | ||
Information seeking | Trust information from local media sourcesc (Range: 1 = Not at all; 5 = A great deal) | 2.3 (3–1.3) | 0.91 (0.90, 0.92) |
Detroit Free Press | 2.5 (3–1) | ||
Detroit News | 2 (3–1) | ||
MLive | 2 (3–1) | ||
Lansing State Journal | 2 (3–1) | ||
Information seeking | Median number of information sources per respondent | 8 (11–5) | |
Trust/ Mistrust | General trust in health system (Range: 1 = Not true at all; 7 = Very true) | 5.3 (6–4.3) | 0.87 (0.85, 0.88) |
For you, how true are the following statements? | |||
All things considered, health care providers in this country can be trusted | 5 (6–4) | ||
The organization where I typically get health care can be trusted to use my information responsibly | 5 (6–4) | ||
The organization where I typically get health care protects my privacy | 6 (6–4) |
Characteristic | Frequency (%) | Mann Whitney U/ Kruskal Wallis testsb | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Median (IQR)a | U/H-Statistics | dfc | z | p-value | ||
Demographics | ||||||
Gender | 206,062 | 1 | −1.478 | 0.139 | ||
Males | 48.0% | 4.3 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Female | 52.0% | 4.7 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Race/Ethnicity | 95,173 | 1 | 2.797 | 0.005 | ||
White | 83.7% | 4.3 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Black | 16.3% | 5.0 (6.0–4.0) | ||||
Education | 9.26 | 2 | – | 0.010 | ||
College graduate or higher | 30.0% | 5.0 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Some college | 29.7% | 4.7 (6.0–3.3) | ||||
High school graduate or less | 40.3% | 4.0 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Information seeking | ||||||
Thinking about what is said in the news, in your view is the seriousness of coronavirus….? | 237.01 | 2 | <.0001 | |||
Generally, correct | 43.8% | 5.0 (6.3–4.0) | ||||
Generally exaggerated | 34.4% | 3.0 (4.3–1.0) | ||||
Generally underestimated | 21.8% | 5.3 (6.7–4.0) | ||||
Thinking about some of the ways you get information about the coronavirus outbreak, would you say that you get information from each of the following sources… [Range 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly] | ||||||
Health care providers | 11.1591 | 2 | – | 0.004 | ||
Never, or rarely | 61.7% | 4.3 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Occasionally | 27.8% | 5.0 (6.0–4.0) | ||||
Regularly | 10.5% | 5.0 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Social media | 5.9814 | 2 | – | 0.050 | ||
Never, or rarely | 47.9% | 4.3 (6.0–3.3) | ||||
Occasionally | 32.0% | 4.3 (6.0–3.0) | ||||
Regularly | 20.1% | 5.0 (6.3–4.0) | ||||
Health insurance provider | 11.1662 | 2 | – | 0.004 | ||
Never, or rarely | 71.4% | 4.3 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Occasionally | 21.5% | 5.0 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Regularly | 7.0% | 5.3 (6.3–4.0) | ||||
Regardless of how often you get information from these sources, how much do you trust information provided about the coronavirus outbreak by each of the following? [Range 1 = Not at all, 7 = a great deal] | ||||||
Healthcare providers? | 92.4959 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not at all, or only a little | 18.8% | 4.0 (4.7–2.0) | ||||
A moderate amount | 23.1% | 4.0 (6.0–3.3) | ||||
Quite a bit or a great deal | 58.1% | 5.3 (6.3–3.7) | ||||
Family and Friends | 13.3238 | 2 | – | 0.0013 | ||
Not at all, or only a little | 28.7% | 4.0 (5.3–3.0) | ||||
A moderate amount | 41.1% | 5.0 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Quite a bit or a great deal | 30.2% | 4.7 (6.3–3.3) | ||||
Insurance providers | 89.8981 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not at all, or only a little | 36.0% | 4.0 (5.3–2.0) | ||||
A moderate amount | 34.8% | 4.7 (6.0–3.3) | ||||
Quite a bit or a great deal | 29.2% | 5.7 (6.7–4.3) | ||||
Trust/ Mistrust | ||||||
I think the federal government has an agenda that’s causing them not to give the whole story to the public. [Range 1 = Not true at all, 7 = Very true] | 46.20 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | 19.9% | 4.0 (5.7–2.0) | ||||
Neutral | 19.3% | 4.0 (5.3–3.7) | ||||
Somewhat True, true, or very true | 60.8% | 5.0 (6.3–3.7) | ||||
I think the Governor’s office has an agenda that’s causing them not to give the whole story to the public. .... [Range 1 = Not true at all, 7 = Very true] | 206.42 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | 39.5% | 6.0 (6.7–4.7) | ||||
Neutral | 14.2% | 4.0 (5.3–3.7) | ||||
Somewhat True, true, or very true | 46.3% | 4.0 (5.0–2.0) | ||||
Fears/ Concerns | ||||||
I worry that private information about my health could be used against me | 71.33 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | 29.5% | 5.7 (6.7–4.0) | ||||
Neutral | 25.0% | 4.3 (5.7–4.0) | ||||
Somewhat True, true, or very true | 45.5% | 4.0 (5.7–2.7) | ||||
I am worried that misinformation about COVID 19 is making people less safe? [Range 1 = Not true at all, 7 = Very true] | 75.77 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | 13.5% | 3.3 (5.0–1.0) | ||||
Neutral | 12.2% | 4.0 (4.3–3.3) | ||||
Somewhat True, true, or very true | 74.3% | 5.0 (6.3–3.7) | ||||
How much of a threat is the coronavirus outbreak to your personal health? | 141.87 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
No threat/Don’t know | 25.2% | 3.3 (4.7–1.3) | ||||
Minor threat | 44.0% | 4.7 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Major threat | 30.8% | 6.0 (6.7–4.3) | ||||
Political Ideology | ||||||
Do you think of yourself as a….? | 173.28 | 2 | – | <.0001 | ||
Moderate or Other | 41.1% | 4.6 (6.0–3.7) | ||||
Conservative | 28.7% | 3.7 (4.7–1.7) | ||||
Liberal | 30.2% | 6.0 (6.7–4.3) |
Statistical analysis
Variable | Median (IQR)a | Spearman correlation with contact tracing | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
R | (95%, CI)b | p-value | |||
Dependent variable | Willingness to participate in contact tracing | 4.7 (6.0–3.3) | NA | NA | NA |
Demographics | Age | 51 (64–35) | 0.04 | − 0.018, 0.105 | 0.1669 |
Information seeking | Thinking about some of the ways you get information about the coronavirus outbreak, would you say that you get information from each of the following sources… [Range 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly] (Information seeking) | ||||
Public health institutions | 1.7 (2.3–1.3) | 0.40 | 0.343, 0.447 | <.0001 | |
National left leaning media sources | 1.3 (1.7–1.0) | 0.44 | 0.391, 0.492 | <.0001 | |
National right leaning media sources | 1.0 (1.5–1.0) | −0.27 | −0.330, − 0.216 | <.0001 | |
Local news sources | 1.0 (1.5–1.0) | 0.24 | 0.177, 0.294 | <.0001 | |
Number of information sources | 7.0 (10.0–5.0) | 0.34 | 0.282, 0.392 | <.0001 | |
Regardless of how often you get information from these sources, how much do you trust information provided about the coronavirus outbreak by each of the following? [Range 1 = Not at all, 7 = a great deal] | |||||
Public health institutions | 3.3 (4.0–2.3) | 0.53 | 0.479, 0.569 | <.0001 | |
National left leaning media sources | 2.2 (3.3–1.2) | 0.54 | 0.499, 0.587 | <.0001 | |
National right leaning media sources | 2.0 (3.0–1.0) | −0.32 | −0.317, − 0.259 | <.0001 | |
Local sources | 2.3 (3.0–1.3) | 0.42 | 0.372, 0.474 | <.0001 | |
Trust | General trust in health system | 5.0 (6.0–4.0) | 0.45 | 0.402, 0.500 | <.0001 |
Results
Sample demographics
Dependent variable: willingness to participate in contact tracing
Independent variables and their relationship to willingness to participate in contact tracing
Information seeking
Trust/ mistrust
Concerns/ fears
Political ideology
Demographic factors
Factors associated with willingness to participate in contact tracing: stepwise regression
Multivariable Standardized Regression Estimates R2 = 0.48 (0.43, 0.51); F = 38.82; dfa = 20, p < .0001 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Variable | Estimates | p-value | 95% Confidence Limits | |
Lower | Upper | |||
Demographics | ||||
Sex | ||||
Male | ref. | ref. | ||
Female | 0.01 | 0.882 | −0.09 | 0.10 |
Race/Ethnicity | ||||
White | ref. | ref. | ||
Black | 0.20 | 0.004 | 0.07 | 0.33 |
Information seeking | ||||
Thinking about some of the ways you get information about the coronavirus outbreak, would you say that you get information from each of the following sources…? [Range 1 = Never; 4 = Regularly] | ||||
Health care providers | ref. | ref. | ||
Never, or rarely | ||||
Occasionally | 0.07 | 0.256 | −0.05 | 0.19 |
Regularly | −0.11 | 0.189 | −0.28 | 0.06 |
Public health institutionsb | 0.10 | 0.013 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
Trusted sources of information | ||||
Regardless of how often you get information from these sources, how much do you trust information provided about the coronavirus outbreak by each of the following sources…? [Range 1 = Not at all, 7 = a great deal] | ||||
Family and Friends | ref. | ref. | ||
Not at all, or only a little | ||||
A moderate amount | 0.10 | 0.096 | −0.02 | 0.22 |
Quite a bit or a great deal | −0.09 | 0.177 | −0.22 | 0.04 |
Public health institutionsc | 0.10 | 0.006 | 0.03 | 0.18 |
National left leaning media sourcesd | 0.17 | <.001 | 0.09 | 0.24 |
National right leaning media sourcese | −0.08 | 0.012 | −0.14 | −0.02 |
Number of information sources | 0.01 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
Concerns/ fears | ||||
I am worried that misinformation about COVID 19 is making people less safe? [Range 1 = Not true at all, 7 = Very true] | ||||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | ref. | ref. | ||
Neutral | 0.19 | 0.049 | 0.00 | 0.39 |
Somewhat True, true, or very true | 0.30 | <.001 | 0.16 | 0.45 |
How much of a threat is the coronavirus outbreak to your personal health? | ||||
No threat/Don’t know | ref. | ref. | ||
Minor threat | 0.33 | <.001 | 0.20 | 0.45 |
Major threat | 0.59 | <.001 | 0.45 | 0.73 |
I worry that private information about my health could be used against me | ||||
Not true at all, somewhat untrue or untrue | ref. | ref. | ||
Neutral | −0.11 | 0.111 | −0.25 | 0.03 |
Somewhat True, true, or very true | −0.35 | <.001 | −0.47 | − 0.23 |
Trust | ||||
General trust in health system | 0.17 | <.001 | 0.12 | 0.23 |
Political Ideology | ||||
Do you think of yourself as a….? | ||||
Moderate or Other | ref. | ref. | ||
Conservative | −0.12 | 0.076 | −0.25 | 0.01 |
Liberal | 0.06 | 0.318 | −0.06 | 0.19 |