– a worldwide study on public perceptions and attitudes towards science and health. These data are highly relevant in the current situation and should be mined at country level to determine how best to deliver relevant, credible public health messaging.
Trust in science negatively correlates with societal inequality – the higher the level of inequality, the lower the degree of trust in science. Importantly, the report also uncovered that levels of trust in science are closely linked to levels of trust in national government and institutions. . How well this translates to trust in public health messaging, especially under the stress of an ongoing pandemic, is unclear.the general uncertainties inherent in even the best science is also critical to securing trust: in a pandemic, decisions are based on the bestMessaging, therefore, needs to be clear and unambiguous while allowing room for adaptation as more information is gathered or the dynamics of the disease change.