Impact of information presentation and cognitive load on views toward COVID-19 booster vaccines

INTERVENTION: This study will investigate the effects of presenting long COVID and booster‐related information on vaccine intentions, knowledge, and attitudes, when the information is presented in terms of either general or specific outcomes. General information will show the likelihood of developing at least one long COVID symptom (with vs. without boosters), while specific information will additionally show likelihoods for 5 specific long COVID symptomatic categories (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, metabolic, neurological). Additionally, some participants will be allocated to a cognitive load condition, wherein they will be asked to memorise and later recall a 7‐digit number. The purpose of this is to investigate whether an interaction exists between presentation type and cognitive load. Participants (from the student population) will be able to access the survey link via the Usyd SONApsych website, once they have signed up to participate in the study. Upon starting the survey, participants will be randomised to 1 of 4 conditions via the Qualtrics Randomiser feature. The four conditions are: 1. General‐with‐load (general long COVID information and additional cognitive load) 2. General‐no‐load (general information and no additional cognitive load) 3. Specific‐with‐load (specific long COVID information and additional cognitive load) 4. Specific‐no‐load (specific long COVID information and no additional cognitive load) Each information package is anticipated to take 1‐2 minutes to read. Participants who are asked to recall the 7‐digit number will be asked to do so right after they have viewed the long COVID information (i.e. they will have to retain the 7‐digit number for the duration that they are viewing the long COVID informatio CONDITION: Infection ‐ Other infectious diseases Long COVID;COVID‐19; ; Long COVID ; COVID‐19 Public Health ‐ Health promotion/education PRIMARY OUTCOME: Vaccine intention[Participants will answer a question assessing their intentions to receive booster vaccines, after viewing the long Covid information. The question is as follows:; ; I intend to get the next booster when it is recommended for me:; [7 point scale from Very Likely (1) to Very Unlikely (7)] Immediately following intervention] Vaccine intention[Participants will be asked to respond to the following question assessing vaccine intention, which consists of 6 statements. Responses to each statement will be assessed together, i.e. to generate a composite score of vaccine intention.; ; Please answer the following questions about the booster vaccination:; a) I am willing to do anything to get vaccinated against COVID‐19; b) I am determined to get a vaccination against COVID‐19; c) I would do my best to avoid the vaccine; d) I have seriously thought about receiving the COVID‐19 vaccine; e) I think the COVID‐19 vaccine is not safe; f) I would prefer to stay at home, rather than get vaccinated against COVID‐19; [7 point scale, from Total disagreement to Total Agreement] Immediately following intervention] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Live in Australia, aged 18 or above, able to read and write English SECONDARY OUTCOME: Vaccine attitudes[Semantic differentials question in questionnaire assessing attitudes toward booster vaccines: ; ; 1. To receive a booster vaccination against COVID‐19 is: ; [7 point scale for each semantic differential] ; a. Bad‐good ; b. Stupid‐wise ; c. Dangerous‐safe ; d. Useless‐effective ; e. Unpleasant‐pleasant ; f. Irresponsible‐responsible ; g. Disturbing‐reassuring Immediately following intervention] Vaccine/long COVID knowledge[Participants will be asked the following multiple choice knowledge questions in the questionnaire: ; ; 1. Recall the output you were shown earlier. What is the approximate risk of having at least one long COVID symptom (after contracting COVID) if you have received two boosters? ; a. 1 in 2 ; b. 1 in 5 ; c. 1 in 3 ; d. 1 in 10 ; ; 2. What is the approximate risk of having at least one long COVID symptom (after contracting COVID) if you received no boosters? ; a. 1 in 2 ; b. 1 in 5 ; c. 1 in 3 ; d. 1 in 10 ; ; Note: For all vaccine/long COVID knowledge questions, we also aim to look at the composite of responses to these questions. However, we will also conduct independent analyses of responses to the questions as further analysis, and have thus put these in separate response boxes for convenience. Immediately after intervention] Vaccine/long COVID knowledge[Question ; ; Receiving COVID booster vaccination: ; a. Reduces the likelihood of experiencing long COVID symptoms ; b. Increases the likelihood of experiencing long COVID symptoms ; c. Has no effect on the likelihood of experiencing long COVID symptoms Immediately after intervention] Vaccine/long COVID knowledge[Question ; ; Which of the following were mentioned as long COVID symptom categories (select all that apply)? ; a. Gastrointestinal ; b. Neurological ; c. Skeletal ; d. Pulmonary ; e. Psychological ; f. Cardiovascular ; g. Metabolic ; h. Dermatological ; i. Muscular Immediately after intervention]