title: Medical mistrust in the context of Ebola: Implications for intended care-seeking and quarantine policy support in the United States.
abstract: This investigation explores Ebola conspiracy beliefs, a form of medical mistrust, and their potential impact on health behavior. Results of an online survey in the United States in December 2014 demonstrated that 16 percent of 202 participants held conspiracy beliefs. Participants who were less knowledgeable about Ebola, more mistrustful of medical organizations, and more xenophobic more strongly endorsed conspiracy beliefs. Participants who more strongly endorsed conspiracy beliefs reported that they would be less likely to seek care for Ebola and were less supportive of quarantining people returning from West Africa. Results suggest that medical mistrust may influence health behaviors during infectious disease outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: 1 Harvard Medical School, USA.|2 Boston Children's Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
authors.affiliation: 1 Harvard Medical School, USA.|2 Boston Children's Hospital, USA.|3 RAND Corporation, USA.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bogart
authors.affiliation: 1 Harvard Medical School, USA.|4 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, USA.|5 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klompas
authors.affiliation: 1 Harvard Medical School, USA.|5 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.|6 Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Ingrid T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D063365:Genocide / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011790:Quarantine / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D065806:Xenophobia / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ebola; conspiracy beliefs; infectious disease; medical mistrust; quarantine