Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Cancer Prevention Among Anti-vaxxers, Flat Earthers, and Reptilian Conspiracists: Online Cross Sectional Survey
The fact that more than half of the 1,494 survey respondents agreed that “It seems like everything causes cancer” underscores the challenge society faces in separating real causes from mythological ones as a result of widespread information. Contrary to their counterparts, those who believed in conspiracies, disapproved of the COVID-19 vaccination, or supported alternative medicine were more likely to support the fictitious causes of cancer while being less likely to support the real causes of cancer. These findings imply a clear link between online disinformation and ensuing unhealthy choices, which may account for an additional portion of cancer that is preventable.