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This research explored how a virtual reality (VR) public service announcement (PSA) in a first-person perspective (vs non-VR PSA scripts: first-person perspective-taking, non-perspective-taking) impacted attitudes toward the PSA and attitudes toward people experiencing homelessness. Participants first reported their attitudes toward people experiencing homelessness. Seven days later, participants watched or read a PSA about the life of a person experiencing homelessness and reported their attitudes toward the people experiencing homelessness and the PSA. We explored how psychological processes (telepresence, empathy, reactance) related to persuasion. Results showed viewing or reading any of the PSAs led to more favorable attitudes toward the target group. The VR PSA was the most likely format to induce telepresence and empathy and the least likely to induce reactance. Attitudes toward the VR PSA were more positive than toward the script PSAs. Overall, our study provides insights into the effectiveness of VR and narrative formats for persuasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European states and international organizations employ migration information campaigns to discourage African youth from trying to get to Europe without the necessary papers. Campaigns count on a variety of actors, including local staff members of Non-Governmental Organizations in origin countries. Yet, little is known about how local campaign implementers perceive and perform their tasks. This article investigates why and how Senegalese citizens help to implement campaigns in Senegal when such campaigns try to curb the very mobility they aspire to themselves. Drawing on 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Senegal, where we observed how migration campaigns were organized and run, the article shows how local implementers produce borders in their daily activities while at the same time making use of the ambiguity campaigns create. We find that local campaign staffs are brokers who simultaneously reinforce and undermine 'soft' borders in their work of translating policy into practice. We analyze how campaigns are performed through the speech acts of local staff, which define and consolidate control over the mobility of Senegalese youth. At the same time, local implementers, in their practical and discursive labor, find fissures to contest dominant discourses and push an alternative message. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determinate the correlation between tobacco control policies (TCP) and the prevalence of tobacco use in the 32 Mexican states during the 2016–2017 period. This is an ecological study that measured TCP by the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) which assigns a score (0–100) based on the level of these component's implementation: price, prohibition in public spaces, expenditures of public information campaigns, publicity prohibitions, health warnings, and treatments. We analyzed the associations between the TCS scores and prevalence of tobacco use extracted from the National Survey of Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption using Spearman correlations. Prevalence of daily smokers is negatively correlated with global TCS scores for adolescents (p = 0.026). Price showed similar negative correlations with daily prevalence in adolescents (p = 0.003), adults (p = 0.040), men (p < 0.006), and women (p = 0.040). Many Mexican states need to improve on tobacco control policies, especially targeting a key population: adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to determine the role of smoking/vaping related products in Emergency Department (ED) product-related injuries by age and sex to determine if interventions are warranted. These products include the combustible tobacco products' paraphernalia to light them (CTPP), electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and electronic non-nicotine delivery system (ENNDS). Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), years 2012–2022, were examined for injury data associated with CTPP and ENDS/ENNDS. Bivariate comparisons were conducted. There were an estimated 3,142 (95%CI: 2,384–3,975) ED-treated ENDS/ENNDS product-related injuries and 46,116 (95%CI: 38,712–53,520) CTPP product-related injuries. Males were more likely to have an ED-treated ENDS/ENNDS product-related injury than females (proportion 0.93 [95%CI: 0.82, 0.98] versus 0.70 [95%CI: 0.02, 0.19]) as well as a CTPP product-related injury than females (proportion, 0.60 [95%CI: 0.56, 0.64] versus 0.40 [95%CI: 0.37, 0.44]). There were more ED-treated ENDS/ENNDS product-related injuries among persons ≥18 years than <18 years (proportion, 0.89 [95%CI: 0.75, 0.96] versus 0.11 [95% CI: 0.4, 0.35]). There were also more ED-treated CTPP product injuries among persons ≥ 18 years than <18 years (proportion, 0.73 [95%CI: 0.68, 0.78] versus 0.27 [95%CI: 0.22, 0.32]). No change in the proportion of injuries in our sample associated with END/ENNDS over time were observed. There is a need to consider injuries related to ENDS/ENNDS and CTPP product-related injuries in the discussion of the risks associated with smoking/vaping. Although ENDS/ENNDS have had fewer ED-treated injuries, the number of such injuries has remained stable, rather than declined over the previous decade. Injury prevention is a public health imperative and targeted interventions by healthcare providers during routine care, and the use of public service announcements could specifically target adults ≥18 years. Providing peer-to-peer educational programs, and initiating similar programs targeted at males who use CTP and ENDS/ENNDS have the potential to decrease injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We conducted a nationwide semi-standardized interview with 1072 drivers in Germany. • Almost 88% of all drivers performed a non-driving-related task. • Passenger presence decreases engagement in other secondary tasks, especially on the phone. • Mobile phone addiction is an indicator for predicting secondary tasks on the phone. • Drivers are more engaged in secondary tasks while leisure than shopping and business trips. One of the leading causes of crashes is the distraction of drivers caused by performing secondary tasks. This study investigated the impact of sociodemographic, contextual factors, and driver characteristics on secondary task engagement while driving in Germany. We conducted a nationwide face-to-face semi-standardized interview study with car drivers in Germany. In total, 1,072 drivers were interviewed. The data of 949 drivers were included in the analysis. Overall, they reported 2,146 secondary tasks. Drivers performed, on average, 2.3 non-driving-related activities (SD = 1.7) during the last 30 min of their trip. Consistent with previous findings, the presence of passengers was associated with a decrease in the amount of other secondary tasks, especially on the mobile phone. Young drivers (<25 years), in particular, were twice as likely to undertake secondary activities on the phone compared to older ones. Among drivers with a high mobile phone addiction score, tasks on the mobile phone were significantly more likely to be performed while driving. During longer trips, more secondary activities are performed within the last 30 min than during short trips (<30 min). Surprisingly, the purpose of the trip also has a significant influence insofar as trips for leisure activities, in particular, are more frequently associated with secondary activities than shopping and business trips. The results of this study help to determine better crash probabilities based on influencing factors, which in turn should form the basis for specific customised information and educational campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In principle, liberal democracy is about an equal right to decision-making and presumes a public sphere, equally open to all. However, in practice, this normative ideal, articulated, among others, by Jürgen Habermas and John Dewey, is farther away today than ever since WWII. The "real" public sphere, distinguished from its ideal, is harmed by conflicting and divisive interests, often presenting themselves in the form of information campaigns targeting the most vulnerable groups of society. The information offered is often labelled as disinformation, i.e. information that is misleading or purposefully false. However, this article claims that we must distinguish between different uses of the concept of disinformation. Although disinformation campaigns are increasingly harmful for democracy, the label of disinformation can be used to silence necessary critical voices and movements in society, thus promoting a public sphere based on a forced consensus. This article focuses on current European developments, although there are references to the developments in other continents as well. It is based on a review of recent research publications and public policy documents about different aspects of disinformation and inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite little evidence of efficacy, public information campaigns have been a popular strategy for deterring migration. Advertising campaigns to dissuade would-be migrants from leaving home or seeking asylum are increasingly prevalent around the world, and Australia has devoted millions of dollars to these campaigns. Perhaps the most famous is the campaign launched in 2014, with the message: "No Way. You will not make Australia home." In this article, I develop the concept of enforcement infrastructure to illustrate the relationships, technologies, actors, and policies that together facilitate enforcement of Australia's borders and produce campaigns such as the "No Way" campaign. Just as infrastructure facilitates the production of value in other contexts, so too does the creation of enforcement infrastructure produce different types of value in the context of enforcement. Mapping the enforcement infrastructure highlights the different types of value produced by this constellation of actors, from profitable market research to reinforcing colonial logics of exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cyclists are vulnerable traffic users and studying the cycling behavior of professional and elite cyclists, their previous history of traffic accidents combined with the current knowledge on high-risk behaviors of this group can be a useful basis for further studies on ordinary cyclists. This study aimed to determine the relationship between cycling behavior and the previous history of traffic accidents among members of the Cycling Federation of Guilan province in 2022. Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was performed in which the Bicycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (BRBQ) constructed in the Porsline platform was distributed using the WhatsApp social network. All participants were asked to self-report their cycling behavior. The final analysis was performed by using STATA software (version 14). Results: The study subjects included a total of 109 cyclists with a mean age of 38.62 ± 10.94 years and a mean cycling experience of 13.75 ± 11.08 years. Using the logistic regression model, the relationship between gender (P = 0.039), years of cycling experience (P = 0.000), and education level (P ≤ 0.00), with previous traffic accidents, was found significant. There was also a significant relationship between stunts and distractions (P = 0.005), signaling violation (P = 0.000), and control error (P = 0.011) with previous traffic accidents. A significant association existed between stunts and distractions (P = 0.001) and signaling violation (P = 0.001) with a previous history of traffic injury within the last 3 years. Conclusions: The findings of this study can be used to establish cyclist safety and preventative planning in society. In behavior change intervention programs, it is best to target male cyclists with higher-level education. In addition, the behavior of the cyclists whose predominant term of signaling violations must be corrected should be targeted. It is necessary to shape information campaigns and educational programs aimed for cyclists with common high-risk behaviors, especially signaling violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilising a framework inspired by Edward Bernays, this article critiques public relations in international criminal justice. The article demonstrates public relations is a hollow enterprise comprised of one-way publicity and legitimation. Outreach and public information campaigns are endeavours reliant on standard messaging tactics that treat constituencies as uncritical and homogenous consumers. Such tactics reflect a deep and entrenched turn to marketing and image-management. Whilst such a turn may be inevitable, tribunals such as International Criminal Court need to establish meaningful relations with the public, developed through listening and a commitment to mutual co-learning that, in turn, can drive organisational improvements. In its absence, public relations is a mere exercise in presentation and will continue to lack significance in the contemporary information landscape [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Identify how early COVID-19 public health messages incorporated in the tenets of the extended parallel process model (EPPM). Setting: YouTube videos developed by governmental departments, medical institutions, news organizations, and non-profit organizations in the United States were aggregated. Method: This qualitative study conducted a keyword search to identify public service announcements (PSAs). The sample was further refined after searching PSAs that contained fear appeals. A thematic analysis was performed by using the constant comparative method. Sample: A total of forty-three videos was included in the final analysis. Result: Two themes emerged regarding messages aimed at arousing the perceived severity of threat. These themes include emphasizing the consequences of being infected and utilizing personal narratives. Perceived susceptibility of threat was aroused by emphasizing that some groups have higher risks than others. Two themes emerged around arousing perceived response efficacy: (1) the authority of professionals; and (2) altruism and personal responsibility. One way was identified to arouse perceived self-efficacy, which is informing the protective measures. Conclusion: Multiple strategies were used in PSAs about COVID-19 to arouse fear during the early stages of the pandemic. The utilization of self-efficacy was oversimplified, by not providing details about the rationale for the recommended behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campaigns use different strategies across communication channels. How does this affect voters? What are the consequences of being exposed to targeted campaign messages? How do voters react when they are exposed to campaign messages that are aimed at different voters? Does mistargeting always punish candidates or does it reward them under certain conditions? In a survey experiment relying on a sample of 1137 U.S. adults, participants evaluated a fictional candidate running for the U.S. Senate after being exposed to various sets of campaign messages originally delivered via e-mail and TV. A fictional candidate was used to prevent the effects of prior knowledge while the campaign information given to the participants was based on a real campaign's e-mails and television ads to achieve a degree of realism. Voters perceive the same candidate differently depending on the messages they receive. Politicians may benefit or suffer from mistargeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about why candidates decide to make use of emotional messages when campaigning for a political office, and under which conditions this is more likely to happen. We focus on the use of fear and enthusiasm appeals and assume that these are a function of profile of candidates and the nature of the context in which the election takes place. We use a new large-scale comparative dataset which includes information about campaigning strategies for 636 candidates having competed in 133 presidential and parliamentary elections in 101 countries between June 2016 and March 2020, based on judgments of 2000+ domestic and international experts. Our results show that candidates benefitting from a comparative advantage (incumbents and frontrunners) tend to rely on enthusiasm appeals, more extreme candidates prefer fear to enthusiasm, and more competitive races tend to foster the use of fear appeals. These findings have important implications for electoral competition, communication theory, and political marketing. All data and materials are openly available for replication. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2021.1930327. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winter of 2022/23 has seen large increases in energy prices and in the cost of living in many countries around the world, including Great Britain. Here, we report the results of two surveys, combining cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis, in a sample of about 5400 British households. One survey was conducted early in 2023, the other when participants had signed up to an ongoing research study in the past five years. Thermostat settings were about 1°C lower during the cost-of-living crisis than before, and householders were more likely to turn the heating off when the home was unoccupied. The effort to save energy increased compared to pre-cost-of-living-crisis levels. Using the in-home display more in the cost-of-living crisis than before correlated with greater effort to save energy, supporting the notion that displaying energy data can be a useful tool for energy reductions. Finding it difficult to keep comfortably warm in the home and struggling with meeting heating costs were linked to lower wellbeing, strengthening evidence links between cold, damp, and hard-to-heat homes and negative mental health outcomes. About 40% of respondents lowered the flow temperature of the boiler which might imply that highly tailored information campaigns can be effective in changing behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information campaigns aim at discouraging potential migrants from leaving their countries irregularly. This article discusses how to analyse the impact of such campaigns by identifying different research lines in the literature. The impact of migration information campaigns may be explored by, firstly, focusing on transnational migratory data and inter‐state relations (the macro‐level); secondly, by investigating their impact on narratives within societies (the meso‐level); and, finally, by investigating the micro‐level of their influence on migratory decision‐making. At each level, scholars face considerable methodological challenges to filter out the impact of campaigns. This article suggests that a promising research avenue is to analyse more widely the narratives and information sources upon which (potential) migrants rely. Opening up the research focus may avoid the risk of over‐emphasising the impact of information campaigns by only looking at them. It allows to better understand which sources of information actually influence migratory behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that information campaigns can stop migrants from engaging in troublesome journeys has been criticized in recent years on the basis that migrants are aware of the risks of their travel. This article intervenes in the discussion on the relevance of information by arguing for a more nuanced view that looks at what information migrants have, how they understand risks, and what types of information are relevant to the journey itself. This argument is illustrated with the case of high-risk transit migration from Central America through Mexico toward the USA, drawing on data from 60 interviews with migrants collected during 2017–18, a period during which transit migration came with extreme risks and a low chance of success. Our findings show that while most migrants are indeed aware that migration involves risks, they often do not understand (or believe) the exact dimensions of these risks, nor are they well informed on the journey as a whole. Besides the decision to depart or not, access to information is shown to be relevant in various aspects of migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The campaign "FURTHER KNOWLEDGE" was launched to highlight the societal relevance of scientific libraries in Germany. The aim is to emphasize the special tasks, functions, and achievements of libraries as a prerequisite for innovative science. The campaign is supported by major scientific libraries and includes posters, social media actions, and events. Prominent personalities such as Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif and Prof. Dr. Jutta Allmendinger support the campaign with short statements. Further information about the campaign can be found on the website weiterwissen-kampagne.de. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Plain packaging and graphic warning labels are two regulatory strategies that may impact cigarette risk beliefs and reduce consumption, but data are needed to better understand how smokers respond to such regulations. Methods: Adult, daily, Marlboro non-menthol smokers (Red [n = 141] or Gold [n = 43]) completed a mixed factorial randomized trial. Participants smoked their usual cigarettes during baseline (5-days) and were randomized to receive cigarette packs with a warning label manipulation (graphic vs. text-only). Within each warning label condition, participants completed three within-subjects pack color manipulations (red, gold, plain), each lasting 15 days. Participants were blinded to the fact that all packs contained their usual cigarettes. Mixed-effects models examined between- and within-subject differences on risk beliefs, product perceptions, and smoking behavior. Results: Warning type and package color did not impact cigarette consumption or subjective ratings. However, use increased in all conditions (2.59–3.59 cigarettes per day) relative to baseline. While smokers largely held correct risk beliefs at baseline (Mean = 6.02, SE = 0.17, Range:0–8), the cumulative number of incorrect or uncertain cigarette risk beliefs increased from baseline in all pack color manipulations in the text (IRR range = 1.70–2.16) and graphic (IRR range = 1.31–1.70) warning conditions. Across all pack color periods, those in the graphic (vs. text) warning condition had reduced odds of reporting their study cigarettes as 'safer' than regular cigarettes (OR range = 0.22–0.32). Conclusions: Pack color modification may increase uncertainty about several key cigarette risk beliefs, though graphic warnings may attenuate these effects. Regulatory agencies could consider supporting policy changes with information campaigns to maximize public knowledge. Trial registration: November 25, 2014; Registration number: NCT02301351. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appropriate malaria treatment-seeking behaviour (TSB) is critical for timely detecting malaria, prompt treatment, and prevention of onward transmission of the disease in a community. This study aimed to compare treatment-seeking behaviours between malaria patients and non-malaria febrile patients, and to analyse the factors associated with appropriate TSB along the China-Myanmar border. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the appropriate TSB of microscopy-confirmed malaria patients versus non-malaria febrile (NMF) patients. An unconditional logistic regression analysis (LRA) was used to identify factors associated with appropriate TSB. Results: Among 223 malaria patients and 446 NMF patients, 129 (57.8%) of the malaria patients versus 163 (36.5%) of the NMF patients firstly sought treatment in health facilities without laboratory testing for malaria (P < 0.0001). A total of 85(38.1%) of the malaria patients versus 278 (62.3%) of the NMF patients had appropriate TSB, namely, seeking treatment in health facilities with laboratory testing for malaria within 48 h (P < 0.0001). Multivariate LRA identified that the malaria patients with Chinese nationality had less appropriate TSB compared to those with other nationalities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.21, 95% confidence interval CI 0.07–0.68, P = 0.0097), and malaria patients residing in urban areas had more appropriate TSB compared to those living in rural areas (AOR: 2.16, 95%CI 1.06–4.39, P = 0.0337). Conclusions: TSB was not appropriate in malaria patients. Chinese citizenship and rural residence were two independent factors associated with inappropriate malaria TSB. It is urgently necessary to improve appropriate malaria TSB through effective campaigns of information, education, and communication for malaria control in Myanmar and preventing reestablishment of malaria transmission in Yunnan, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing may foster sustainability synergistically by saving resources, reducing costs and promoting satisfaction of consumer needs and social connectivity. A survey of Swiss and Swedish consumers (N = 1522) was conducted to analyze drivers and barriers for P2P sharing of household products as taker and/or provider in a complementary way referring to social exchange theory. More than two-thirds (69.1%) of the participants took or provided shared household products during the previous 12 months. The traditional mode of sharing was more prevalent (53.5%) than sharing on online platforms (14.5%). Nearly half of the participants (44.5%) both took and provided shared products, 18.1% exclusively took and 6.5% exclusively provided them, and 30.1% were non-sharers. The traditional mode of sharing involved more reciprocal sharers (66.7%), who both took and provided products, compared to online sharing. Reciprocal sharers were on average younger and had higher income and education levels than non-sharers. Furthermore, their ecological, social, and economic value orientations were stronger, and they rated the benefits of sharing higher than non-sharers. Knowledge about sharing and experience of positive emotions when sharing were consistently positively related to both the number of products taken and provided. To promote the sharing economy, online sharing platforms should enhance consumer's knowledge and trust through information campaigns and review or insurance systems. Marketing activities should communicate easy access and application of platforms, and the ecological, socio-emotional and economic benefits. A meaningful social interaction between takers and providers should be promoted to promote social connectivity and emotionally positive experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply a test and extension of Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) to AT&T's It Can Wait® promotional messages. Though promising, EVT remains underutilized in mass media contexts. We propose that message elaboration mediates the effects of violating audience expectations of message novelty, dramatic impact, and emotional arousal. Findings indicated that emotional arousal and dramatic impact violations had indirect effects on persuasiveness through message elaboration. This study contributes to theory by providing evidence that in mediated contexts violating message expectations can lead to greater persuasion. Implications for incorporating audience expectations into the design of safety messages are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration‐information campaigns informing potential migrants about the risks of the journey and the harsh life conditions in the destination countries have emerged as prominent tools of migration management in the last decades. Despite their growing importance, little is known about their local implementation in countries of transit and origin as well as their influence on potential migrants' perceptions and experiences. The central objective of this paper is to understand how migration‐information campaigns are implemented on a local scale and how they shape the perception and discourses of migration in the region. We pursue a multi‐scalar analysis of international migration management policies and their outcomes in a specific place and link them with local migration aspirations. The paper is based on qualitative empirical research carried out in Harar, a medium‐sized city in the Harari regional state of Ethiopia. Drawing on interviews with government officials, NGOs, city dwellers, and return migrants, as well as the analysis of policy documents and scientific literature, we show how the local implementation of migration‐information campaigns shapes the local perceptions and discourses on migration within which migration aspirations are embedded. We found that information campaigns did not take into account the complexity and multifaceted nature of local socioeconomic and political conditions which reflects the discrepancy between policy discourses at large and people's perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political accountability may be constrained by the reach and relevance of information campaigns in developing democracies and—upon receiving information—voters' ability and will to hold politicians accountable. To illuminate voter‐level constraints and information relevance absent dissemination constraints, we conducted a field experiment around Senegal's 2017 parliamentary elections to examine the core theoretical steps linking receiving different types of incumbent performance information to electoral and nonelectoral accountability. Voters immediately processed information as Bayesians, found temporally benchmarked local performance outcomes particularly informative, and updated their beliefs for at least a month. Learning that incumbents generally performed better than expected, voters durably requested greater politician contact after elections while incumbent vote choice increased among likely voters and voters prioritizing local projects when appraising incumbents. In contrast, information about incumbent duties did not systematically influence beliefs or accountability. These findings suggest voters were able and mostly willing to use relevant information to hold politicians to account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A set of evidence-based alcohol control policy measures was adopted in the period 2016-2020 in Lithuania. The present study fills a knowledge gap on how changes in alcohol control policy are associated with attitudes toward different alcohol policy measures. Objective: This study aims to explore whether support for key alcohol control policy measures in Lithuania declined following implementation of alcohol control measures. Methods: Data came from the Standard European Alcohol Survey. Two representative surveys with the same questionnaire, were conducted in Lithuania in 2015 (N = 1513, 51.7% female, response rate was 38.9%) and 2020 (N = 1015, 50.6% female, response rate was 38.0%). Multi-stage stratified probability sampling was applied. Surveys were carried out using computer-assisted face-to-face interviews, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses was applied. We used a binomial logistic regression analysis and the Pearson chi-square test. Results: There was a significant decline in a proportion of respondents who agreed that the number of alcohol selling places should be kept low (OR: 0.84, p = .032), alcohol prices should be kept high (OR: 0.83, p = .027), and the police should be allowed to randomly check whether the driver is sober (OR: 0.65, p < .001). The proportion of respondents who agree that individuals are responsible enough with their drinking significantly declined (OR: 0.76, p = .003). Conclusion: Support for restrictions on alcohol-selling points, increase in alcohol price, and random alcohol testing of drivers declined following the adoption of new alcohol control policy measures. Our findings might be beneficial for policy-makers planning alcohol control policies and information campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments involved in civil wars often seek to shape foreign perceptions of the conflict and of the government's role in the conflict. To this end, for example, many such governments have engaged in public diplomacy campaigns (PDCs) in the United States since the end of the Cold War. Specifically, these governments have hired US public relations (PR) and lobbying firms to present favorable narratives of themselves and their role in the conflict. Through PDCs, governments seek to shape US public pronouncements about the governments and the conflict itself. Are PDCs effective tools to reach this goal? We argue that the effect of PDCs is divergent. PDCs help mobilize both supporters and opponents of the sponsoring governments. In so doing, PDCs increase both positive and negative public statements from US officials toward the civil war government. We compile data on PDCs in the United States since the end of the Cold War. Our results have implications for research on foreign influence in foreign policy, combatants' moral hazard, and international norms about combatant behavior. Moreover, in order to gauge the influence of foreign actors on domestic narratives of civil wars, it is crucial to consider how such foreign actors can indirectly shape the discourse around conflict by mobilizing domestic factions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a dataset on the covert use of social media to influence politics by promoting propaganda, advocating controversial viewpoints, and spreading disinformation. Influence efforts (IEs) are defined as: (i) coordinated campaigns by a state, or the ruling party in an autocracy, to impact one or more specific aspects of politics at home or in another state, (ii) through media channels, including social media, by (iii) producing content designed to appear indigenous to the target state. Our data draw on more than 1,000 media reports and 500 research articles/reports to identify IEs, track their progress, and classify their features. The data cover 78 foreign influence efforts (FIEs) and 25 domestic influence efforts (DIEs) – in which governments targeted their own citizens – against 51 different countries from 2011 through early 2021. The Influence Effort dataset measures covert information campaigns by state actors, facilitating research on contemporary statecraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propaganda has been an age-old part of warmongering. It is thus no surprise that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was preceded by, and continues to be fuelled by, propaganda transmitted by state-controlled Russian media. What is more unusual about the Russian (dis)information campaigns is the sheer volume of distorted narratives or complete fictional accounts about the conflict. This article explores the content and technologies of Russian information manipulation of domestic audiences in the context of the invasion of Ukraine. We also examine the bases for the sustained robust public support for the war within Russia during the first 12 months of the conflict, despite being based on mostly fabricated (dis)information. Relying on political psychology and communication theory we explain how emotions and associative memories have played an important role in the Russian public's sustained approval to the war. Our findings point to that in the absence of contrasted and independently-verified information, the volume, frequency, emotional intensity of slick, plug-and-play media packages on Ukraine have acted to displace and distort the average Russian's associative social monitoring processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public education campaigns are promising methods for promoting vaccine uptake. In April 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the We Can Do This COVID-19 public education campaign. This study is one of the first evaluations of this COVID-19 public education campaign. We tested associations between channel-specific campaign exposure (i.e. digital, TV, radio, print, and out-of-home advertising) and COVID-19 first-dose vaccinations among a nationally representative online sample of 3,278 adults. The study introduces novel ways to simultaneously evaluate short- and long-term cumulative media dose, filling an important gap in campaign evaluation literature. We observed a positive, statistically significant relationship between the short-term change in digital media dose and the likelihood of first-dose vaccination, and a positive, statistically significant relationship between long-term cumulative TV dose and the likelihood of first-dose vaccination. Results suggest that both digital and TV ads contributed to vaccination, such that digital media was associated with more immediate behavioral changes, whereas TV gradually shifted behaviors over time. As findings varied by media channel, this study suggests that public education campaigns should consider delivering campaign messages across multiple media channels to enhance campaign reach across audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of My Missouri Bar, a public service announcement (PSA) project by the Missouri Bar's Leadership Academy, in showcasing the impacts of lawyers on their clients and communities. Topics discussed include the aim of My Missouri Bar to highlight lawyers offering pro bono or reduced-fee legal services, PSAs highlighting how lawyers helped a client keep her house and another client to secure his disability benefits, and the broadcast of the PSAs on radio, TV and online.

Background: The Belgian government has taken several measures to increase the uptake of biosimilars in past years. However, no formal evaluation of the impact of these measures has been made yet. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the implemented measures on biosimilar uptake. Methods: An interrupted time series analysis was performed using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model with the Box-Jenkins method. All data were expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) per month/quarter and obtained from the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI). Three molecules were included in the analysis: etanercept (ambulatory), filgrastim (hospital), and epoetin (hospital). A significance level of 5% was used for all analyses. Results: In the ambulatory care, the effect of a financial prescriber incentive of 2019 was investigated. After this intervention, 44.504 (95% CI −61.61 to −14.812; P < 0.001) fewer etanercept biosimilar DDDs were dispensed monthly than expected in the absence of the intervention. Two interventions were modelled for biosimilars in the hospital setting. The first intervention of 2016 includes prescription targets for biosimilars and monitoring of hospitals on adequate tendering. The second intervention involves an information campaign on biosimilars. After the first intervention, a small decrease in quarterly epoetin biosimilar uptake of 449.820 DDD (95% CI −880.113 to −19.527; P = 0.05) was observed. The second intervention led to a larger increase in quarterly epoetin biosimilar uptake of 2733.692 DDD (95% CI 1648.648–3818.736; P < 0.001). For filgrastim, 1809.833 DDD (95% CI 1354.797–2264.869; P < 0.001) more biosimilars were dispensed immediately after the first intervention and 151.639 DDD (95% CI −203.128 to −100.150; P < 0.001) fewer biosimilars each quarter after the first intervention. An immediate and sustained increase of 700.932 DDD (95% CI 180.536–1221.328; P = 0.016) in quarterly biosimilar volume was observed after the second intervention. All other parameter estimates were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the impact of past policy interventions to increase the uptake of biosimilars has been variable and limited. A holistic policy framework is required to develop a competitive and sustainable off-patent biologicals market in Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the implementation of the Count the Kicks campaign in Iowa to increase maternal awareness of fetal movements and its association with stillbirth rates. Design: Time series analysis. Setting: Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri, USA. Sample: Women giving birth between 2005 and 2018. Methods: Data regarding campaign activity, including uptake of the app and the distribution of information materials, and population‐level data on stillbirth rates and potential confounding risk factors were obtained from publicly available data for 2005–2018. Data were plotted over time and examined in relation to key implementation phases. Main outcome measure: Stillbirth. Results: App users were largely centred on Iowa, and increased over time, although the numbers were modest relative to the number of births. Only Iowa demonstrated a reduction in stillbirth (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.96–1.00 per year; interaction between state and time, p < 0.001); there was a decline from 2008 to 2013 (before the launch of the app), an increase from 2014 to 2016 and a decrease from 2017 to 2018, which coincided with increased app use (interaction between period and time, p = 0.06). With the exception of smoking (which fell from approx. 20% in 2005 to approx. 15% in 2018 in Iowa), all risk factors increased in prevalence, so are unlikely to account for a reduction in stillbirth. Conclusions: There was a reduction in the stillbirth rate in Iowa, where an information campaign about fetal movements was active; this reduction was not present in neighbouring states. Large‐scale intervention studies are needed to determine whether the temporal associations between app use and stillbirth rate are causally related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of decentralization is currently of great importance in Bulgaria. It is related to a number of reforms in local self-government, which require broad public consent. This consent should be derived or obtained after conducting a large-scale information campaign to acquaint the Bulgarian public with the administrative, political and financial framework of the local government. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the awareness of the local community on some key topics in the area of municipal revenue. The main method used is the survey method. The obtained results show that the local community has not reached this level of awareness, which would provide a solid basis for civil participation in the local self-government reform process. The conclusion to be drawn is that the state authority must conduct large-scale information campaigns and organize discussions on the issues of decentralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mann Ki Baat (MKB), the public engagement programme run by All India Radio since 2014, is an innovative approach to engagement between the political leadership and the citizens. The program has seen wide acclaim and has provided enormous audience to the Indian Prime Minister. The program can be accessed over various platforms.This paper looks at the various themes covered over the 80 episodes of the programme across its eight-year span. It reviews the role played by the program in bringing developmental challenges to the fore and sensitising Indian citizens towards them. Various sources of secondary data and literature from scholarly as well as news media have been consulted.The different themes and impacts of the programme are analysed using visualisation methods are used to underline the salient aspects of the programme. This study confirms that the program has leveraged the re-invigorated interest in radio in the last two decades with popularisation of FM. It has also been made popular through information campaigns on social media platforms, news outlets such as print and television. It has been successfully used as a tool for public engagement.Finally, the paper also looks at the relevance of these topics with the developmental challenges of the Delhi NCR area specific to the urban poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

POLLS CAN PROVIDE AN ANTICIPATION OF ELECTION RESULTS, PROVIDING POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES. THESE RESULTS MAY INFLUENCE DECISIONS REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND THE FOCUS ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE POLICY PLATFORM. SURVEY RESULTS CAN INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION BY CREATING OR REINFORCING PERCEPTIONS OF WINNERS OR LOSERS. THEY CAN AFFECT THE DECISION OF VOTERS, CAUSING THEM TO CHANGE OR CONSOLIDATE THEIR CHOICES DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS PRESENTED. THE SURVEY PRESENTED IN THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE POPULARITY OF THE CANDIDATES, THE PREFERENCES OF THE ELECTORATE, AND CHANGES IN OPINION THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THIS DESCRIBED SURVEY IS MAINLY INTENDED TO ESTIMATE WHAT THE POPULATION'S PREFERENCES ARE REGARDING THE PROFILE OF THE FUTURE PRESIDENT, WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES NECESSARY FOR THIS AND WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS REGARDING THE TYPE OF PRESIDENT (INDEPENDENT OR REPRESENTATIVE OF A PARTY OR PARTY GROUPS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the peculiarities of the formation and development of tourist destinations in the western Ukrainian border regions. GMDH analysis of statistical indicators of tourism in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Volyn and Chernivtsi regions revealed the importance of information campaigns promoting local destinations. The strategy for tourist destination formation, information support and promotion in the western Ukrainian border regions is developed and the components of its realisation are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To collect qualitative data on approaches that can potentially reduce barriers to, and create strategies for, increasing SARS‐CoV‐2 testing uptake in underserved Black communities in Louisiana. Methods: A series of eight focus groups, including 41 participants, were conducted in primarily Black communities. The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to determine perceptions of COVID‐19 as a disease, access to testing, and barriers limiting testing uptake. Results: Common barriers to SARS‐CoV‐2 testing were identified as lack of transportation, misinformation/lack of information, lack of time/long wait times, fear of the test being uncomfortable and/or testing positive, the cost of testing, and lack of computer/smartphone/internet. The most impactful approaches identified to increase testing uptake included providing testing within the local communities; testing specifically in heavily traveled areas such as supermarkets, churches, schools, and so forth; providing incentives; engaging local celebrities; and providing information to the community through health fairs, or through churches and schools. The strategies that were deemed to be the easiest to implement revolved around communication about testing, with suggested strategies involving churches, local celebrities or expert leaders, social media, text messages, public service announcements, post cards, or putting up signs in neighborhoods. Providing transportation to testing sites, providing incentives, and bringing the testing to neighborhoods and schools were also identified as easy to implement strategies. Conclusions: Several strategies to increase testing uptake were identified in this population. These strategies need to be tested for effectiveness in real‐world settings using experimental and observational study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to launch various digital information campaigns in an attempt to boost public awareness about the virus and increase public information on effective measures to prevent its diffusion in local communities. Different public relations and data preservation, data retention, and data distribution strategies have been applied by healthcare policymakers to initiate, implement, and promote a wide range of public information campaigns, unique open data-driven platforms, and related digital solutions and tools to achieve the goal. Likewise, they were driven by different motivations and priorities as well as demands and political signals that they received from both top government leadership and civil society. In this regard, it is interesting to analyze how these different public relations and data management strategies were manifested in real administrative and technological practices, what priorities policymakers put in promoting such digital platforms, what communication and data management tools they used, and how effective they were in raising public awareness about the pandemic via such digital information platforms and related data-driven projects, startups, and initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 20 years ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched Ready.gov, a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies such as natural and technological disasters. To date, little is known about the accessibility and adaptability of this information for vulnerable populations including persons with disabilities (PwDs) and those with limited English proficiency (LEP). This computer-automated analysis seeks (1) to determine the general web, mobile and language accessibility of state websites which extend and/or amplify the Ready.gov national campaign goals, (2) to evaluate the document accessibility of downloadable emergency preparedness information, and, based on findings, (3) reflect upon improvement opportunities for disaster and emergency management preparedness messaging processes to vulnerable populations. An exploratory, quantitative content analysis relying on computer-automated software is used to assess the web, language, mobile and document accessibility of Ready.gov state-affiliated websites dedicated to providing public information for emergency preparedness and disaster response. Additional factors such as the use of CAPTCHA, adherence to the Matterhorn Protocol, disclosure of accessibility policy statements, and the presence of tailored information are evaluated. No significant differences among FEMA regions were found. The most frequent errors were likely to impact the POUR dimensions of perceivability and operability. In all, 76% of the Ready.gov state-affiliated websites had WCAG Level AA detectable accessibility failures on the home pages. Furthermore, 62% of the sites offered translational language formats for LEP users, while only 6% (n = 3) explicitly provided PwDs an option to report accessibility-related user experiences to the agency. Document accessibility was deemed to be poor with 80% of the websites disseminating downloadable.pdfs such as emergency planning guides and preparedness kits in inaccessible digital formats. These findings identify opportunities for improvement specifically, in the web, mobile and document accessibility of information associated with the Ready.gov national campaign. We argue that improvement and compliance is expected to reduce the likelihood of litigation, increase the resilience of vulnerable populations, and improve user experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the opinions of health professionals and patients about tobacco products and compare these opinions. The descriptive and cross-sectional study sample consists of 124 healthcare professionals working in a state hospital and 276 patients treated in this hospital. The data were collected face-to-face with an information form containing socio-demographic information and a questionnaire containing questions about tobacco use. SPSS 25 package program was used in the data analysis of the study. It was determined that 33.1% of the healthcare workers used to smoke daily, and 45.7% of the patients did not smoke at all. When being a role model for society regarding smoking / non-smoking is examined, 52.4% of the healthcare professionals answered "yes", while 50.4% of the patients answered "no". Regarding the continuation of the indoor smoking ban in Turkey, the answer given by 66.9% of healthcare professionals and 7.5% of patients is "the ban should continue as the same way". According to the results of the study, men compared to women; It can be stated that healthcare professionals use more tobacco products than patients. Awareness-raising trainings should be given to health workers and patients about the harms of tobacco products. Smoking cessation incentive programs and public service announcements should be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Facebook Ad Library promises to improve transparency and accountability in online advertising by rendering personalised campaigns visible to the public. This article investigates whether and how journalists have made use of this tool in their reporting. Our content analysis of print journalism reveals several different use cases, from high-level reporting on political campaigns to uncovering specific wrongdoings such as disinformation, hate speech, and astroturfing. However, our interviews with journalists who use the Ad Library show that they remain highly critical of this tool and its manifold limitations. We argue that these findings offer empirical grounding for the public regulation of ad archives, since they underscore both the public interest in advertising disclosures as well as the growing reliance of journalists on voluntary and incomplete access frameworks controlled by the very platforms they aim to scrutinise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage management is crucial to the functioning of cities, yet, in the global North, seldom acknowledged in public. Wastewater infrastructures are mainly hidden underground and human excrement is considered a private matter. However, to make sanitation stay invisible, its dysfunctionality (e.g., leaking pipes, aging wastewater plants) is sometimes in acute need of being highlighted. Moreover, the work essential to keep the infrastructures maintained needs to be recognized and compensated for. Based on interviews with actors in the sewage management sector in Sweden, news articles, and public information campaigns, the present article explores how political action and public engagement are mobilized through moves between visibility and invisibility. The analysis focuses on four different modes of problematization: inproblematization, problematization, deproblematization, and unproblematization. Inscribed in the research fields of urban infrastructures and public engagement, the article sheds light on how the public secret of managing feces is upheld, through balancing acts such as creating discursive space, negotiating infrastructural disruptions, making problems treatable, and individualizing solutions. These different modes of problematization are crucial to achieving the right public attention and political measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is carried out in order to determine the knowledge levels and opinions of people who receive health services from health institutions in the last year as of the date of the research. Questionnaire is used as data collection method. In the study, a total of 670 people is reached through the goal-directed sampling method. As analysis methods, descriptive statistical methods and Chi-Square test are used in the study. As a result of the quantitative research, 15.4% of the participants state that they have information about the amount of user contribution being applied; 84.6% of them state that they don't have any information about user contribution fees. 70.1% of the participants know that a certain part of the user contribution they pay to the pharmacy is the price of the service they receive from health institutions. 15.2% of the participants state that they have information about the situations, health services and people where user contribution would not be accepted. It can be said that studies should be carried out to increase the knowledge level of people regarding user contributions in order to implement user contributions more effectively and efficiently as a result of these findings. Brochures explaining the issue can be distributed by the relevant institutions in order to increase the level of awareness among health care users and public service announcements can be published, especially describing user contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Afghan War, the Mujahideen claimed that the Afghan communists were atheists who were subservient to Moscow and did not have the legitimacy to rule Afghanistan. The war became a contest for legitimacy in Afghanistan and internationally. The Soviets and the Afghan communists portrayed communist Afghanistan as Islamic and therefore legitimate in the international arena. The Soviets elaborated an information campaign emphasising Islam and strengthened Afghanistan's contacts with Muslim countries to show that the Afghan communists were Muslims too. They hoped international recognition would reduce Muslim countries' support to the Mujahideen and improve the Afghan communists' acceptance at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, suicide rates have increased by 30% over the past few decades. Public service announcements (PSAs) are effective health promotion vehicles and social media can help spread PSAs to hard-to-engage individuals who may benefit from intervention efforts, yet the most meaningful characteristics of PSAs for influencing health promotion attitudes and behaviors are inconclusive. This study applied content and quantitative text analyses to suicide prevention PSAs and comments on YouTube to assess the relationships between message frame, message format, and the level of sentiment and help-seeking language within them. Seventy-two PSAs were analyzed for gain/loss-framing and narrative/argument-format, and 4,335 related comments were analyzed for positive/negative sentiment and frequency of help-seeking language use. Results indicate that a higher ratio of positive comments was more likely to be found on gain-framed and narrative-formatted PSAs, and a higher ratio of comments with help-seeking language was more likely to be found on narrative-formatted PSAs. Implications and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other organizations have produced and disseminated public health campaigns designed to deter youth from vaping. Yet it is unknown how these campaigns affect adult smokers exposed to these messages with respect to their perceptions of e-cigarettes and their motivation to use these products to reduce or quit smoking. Aims and Methods A controlled experimental design was used to investigate the effects of an FDA-distributed youth-targeted anti-vaping public service announcement (PSA), "Vaping is an Epidemic," upon adult smokers. We randomized 161 daily smokers to view either the FDA PSA or a matched video absent of e-cigarette content, and we hypothesized that the PSA would impact variables related to harm reduction usage of e-cigarettes, including cognitive expectancies, perceived harm, smoking cessation effectiveness, and reported likelihood of switching from smoking to vaping. Results The PSA produced increases in both health risk and potency expectancies. Viewing the PSA compared to the control video resulted in overall more negative expectancies about e-cigarettes and all other variables related to harm reduction usage. Those who viewed the PSA rated e-cigarettes as more harmful (p  < .001) and less effective for smoking cessation (p  < .01), and they reported lower switching motivation (p  < .001). Conclusions Findings indicated that adult smokers who viewed the PSA were less likely to consider e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, thus reducing acceptance of a potential cessation aid with growing empirical support. Sensationalized youth-oriented anti-vaping messages may have unintended public health consequences upon adult audiences. Implications This study is the first controlled experiment examining the effects of youth-oriented anti-vaping PSAs upon adult smokers' cognitive expectancies and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Exposure to the PSA resulted in overall more negative expectancies about e-cigarettes, as well as increased perceived harmfulness and reduced effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Findings showed that these PSAs could deter adult smokers from the utilization of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation or harm reduction strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier empirical research on party list proportional representation systems shows that women spend less on campaigns than men, particularly when quotas are applied. An analysis of the candidate campaign expenses for the 2014 and 2018 Colombian Lower Chamber elections provides a novel test of this gender gap and its underlying causes. The research design leverages Colombia's unique context of electoral institutions, with interdistrict variation in terms of quota rules, and the availability of detailed information on campaign spending and funding. The regression models show that the gender gap in campaign spending is limited to districts with quota rules and disappears among incumbents and candidates listed first on the ballot. As for funding, women candidates are most disadvantaged with regard to personal funds and corporate donations but attract as many individual donations as men do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wishful thinking (WT) of Israeli voters was measured in the unprecedented event of three failing national elections repeated within one year. WT is considered as Type 1 fast/intuitive thinking leading to bias. A novel method for measuring WT – including relevant campaign information and distinguishing between "WT for self" and "WT for others" – was introduced. WT components of voters in leading and trailing camps were compared across the three elections to examine whether patterns would be consistent or haphazard. Despite the presumed uncontrolled nature of WT, the patterns were not haphazard but rather consistent. We also tried to debias WT by applying a novel variation of incentive intervention to shift respondents from fast thinking to slow, rational Type 2 thinking. Unlike past studies, the method was extremely effective in debiasing WT and leading to realistic predictions. However, this was true only for self-WT and not for WT for others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively addressing public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic requires persuading the mass public to change their behavior in significant ways. Many efforts to encourage behavior change–such as public service announcements, social media posts, and billboards–involve short, persuasive appeals, yet the effectiveness of these messages is unclear. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, we tested whether short messages could increase intentions to comply with public health guidelines. To identify promising messages, we conducted two pretests (n = 1,596) in which participants rated the persuasiveness of 56 unique messages: 31 based on the persuasion and social influence literatures and 25 drawn from a pool of crowdsourced messages generated by online respondents. The four top-rated messages emphasized: (1) civic responsibility to reciprocate the sacrifices of health care workers, (2) caring for the elderly and vulnerable, (3) a specific, sympathetic victim, and (4) limited health care system capacity. We then conducted three well-powered, pre-registered experiments (total n = 3,719) testing whether these four top-rated messages, and a standard public health message based on language from the CDC, increased intentions to comply with public health guidelines, such as masking in public spaces. In Study 1, we found the four messages and the standard public health message significantly outperformed a null control. In Studies 2 and 3, we compared the effects of persuasive messages to the standard public health message, finding that none consistently out-performed the standard message. This is in line with other research showing minimal persuasive effects of short messages after the very early stages of the pandemic. Across our studies, we found that (1) short messages can increase intentions to comply with public health guidelines, but (2) short messages featuring persuasive techniques from the social science literature did not substantially outperform standard public health messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]