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A virtual assistant can persuade you to get vaccinated against the flu. Online dialogue as a tool of social influence in promoting vaccinations

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  • Kozłowska, Agnieszka
  • Grzyb, Tomasz
  • Doliński, Dariusz

Abstract

Declining acceptance of vaccinations poses a severe challenge to public health. This study delves into the effectiveness of online dialogue in shaping vaccination attitudes amidst this concerning trend. In today's digital age, utilizing the Internet for public health interventions seems crucial. We developed the FLORA application to engage users in health discussions through a conversational agent and tested it in two experiments. The first (N = 903) assessed the impact of online dialogue on vaccine willingness, while the second (N = 870) included a direct vaccination request. The results revealed a noticeable increase in vaccination intention among participants engaged in the interactive dialogue ending with a request. These findings highlight the potential of online dialogue to convey information about vaccines and support healthcare efforts effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Kozłowska, Agnieszka & Grzyb, Tomasz & Doliński, Dariusz, 2025. "A virtual assistant can persuade you to get vaccinated against the flu. Online dialogue as a tool of social influence in promoting vaccinations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 369(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:369:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625001546
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sahil Loomba & Alexandre Figueiredo & Simon J. Piatek & Kristen Graaf & Heidi J. Larson, 2021. "Measuring the impact of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on vaccination intent in the UK and USA," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(3), pages 337-348, March.
    2. Sacha Altay & Marlène Schwartz & Anne-Sophie Hacquin & Aurélien Allard & Stefaan Blancke & Hugo Mercier, 2022. "Scaling up interactive argumentation by providing counterarguments with a chatbot," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(4), pages 579-592, April.
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