The Relationship Between Healthcare System Distrust and Intention to Use Violence Against Health Professionals: The Mediating Role of Health News Perceptions.

BACKGROUND

Health news refers to media coverage that informs the public about health-related issues, policies and healthcare systems, shaping public perception and understanding. While prior research has examined media's impact on public health behaviour, limited studies have focused on how perceptions of health news affect attitudes towards healthcare professionals, especially in the context of violence against them. This study addresses this gap, examining the mediating role perception of health news on the relationship between distrust in healthcare systems and intentions to use violence against healthcare professionals.

AIM

This research aims to explore how the perception of health news influences the relationship between distrust in healthcare systems and the intention to use violence against healthcare professionals.

METHODOLOGY

A survey was conducted with 693 participants over the age of 18 who had received healthcare services in the last year. The study utilized an intermediary model to assess the role of perception of health news in the relationship between distrust in the healthcare system and the intention to use violence against healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

The findings indicate a positive correlation between distrust in healthcare systems and the intention to use violence against healthcare professionals. Additionally, the perception of health news was found to significantly mediate this relationship.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that negative perceptions of healthcare systems, exacerbated by the portrayal of health news, can escalate the risk of violence against healthcare professionals.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

There was no direct patient or public involvement in the design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. The study primarily relied on data collected through surveys and questionnaires administered to participants. Although the research addresses issues pertinent to the public and healthcare professionals, such as violence against healthcare professionals and the role of media in shaping public perceptions, the public's role was limited to responding to the survey. The findings and implications of this research are intended to benefit the public and healthcare community by informing future strategies and interventions, but the public did not actively contribute to the research process itself.