Prevalence, nature, and determinants of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories among healthcare workers: a scoping review.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19-related conspiracy theories (CTs) have been observed among healthcare workers (HCWs). There exists, however, a lack of research investigating the extent, nature, and determinants of CTs among HCWs worldwide.

Methods: A systematic literature search of Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL electronic databases (from inception to October 2023) was conducted for studies examining the prevalence and nature of COVID-19-related CTs among HCWs and health students and/or factors driving HCWs into believing these CTs.

Results: Prevalence rates of COVID-19-related CTs among HCWs varied widely across studies, ranging from 0.89% to 75.6%. These prevalence rates mainly concern vaccine-hesitant HCWs (although a minority of vaccinated HCWs also endorse CTs). Higher prevalence rates of CTs were found in the Arab world, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, compared to other African and Western countries. While in European countries and Northern America, an increased belief of HCWs in the "destabilization and power gain" narrative was found, African HCWs particularly endorsed the "population reduction" and "liberty restriction" narratives. Limited and heterogeneous data prevented conclusive findings on the relationship between CTs and sociodemographic factors, ethnicity, and psychological traits among HCWs. However, a consistent observation emerged regarding the level of education, indicating HCWs with higher educational attainment (e.g., physicians) tend to endorse CTs less frequently.

Conclusion: Although COVID-19-related CTs may be highly prevalent among vaccine-hesitant HCWs, gaps in understanding the drivers of CTs among HCWs remain. Given HCWs' critical role in public health, especially during pandemics, further research is therefore essential.