ArticleSSM - population health2022
Manufacturing doubt: Assessing the effects of independent vs industry-sponsored messaging about the harms of fossil fuels, smoking, alcohol, and sugar sweetened beverages.
Article in SSM - population health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Paraquat at 63-the story of a controversial herbicide and its regulations: It is time to put people and public health first when regulating paraquat.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Game-based inoculation versus graphic-based inoculation to combat misinformation: a randomized controlled trial.Cognitive research: principles and implications · 2023Trial
- Article
- Logics of (dis)engagement: mapping variation in non-government norms and approaches to alcohol, ultra-processed food and related industries - a case study from Australia.Globalization and health · 2026Article
- Power and entitlement: Addressing the structural drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- In Search of Manifestations and Imaginations of the Climate Crisis: A Longitudinal Analysis of an Online Diary.Integrative psychological & behavioral science · 2025Article
- Qualitative Examination of US and Israeli Adults' Perceptions of IQOS Advertising Messages: Modified Exposure and Risk Statements, US FDA Endorsement, and Health Warnings.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2025Article
- Children's views on weight measurement and talking about weight.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Generating opposition to universal health care policies in the United States: An analysis of private health industry advertising on Meta platforms.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Addressing the commercial determinants of mental health: an umbrella review of population-level interventions.Health promotion international · 2024Review
- Australian parents' perceptions of the risks posed by harmful products to the health of children.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- Corporate activities that influence population health: a scoping review and qualitative synthesis to develop the HEALTH-CORP typology.Globalization and health · 2024Article
- Ultra-Processed Foods and Mental Health: Where Do Eating Disorders Fit into the Puzzle?Nutrients · 2024Review
- Misinformation surrounding sodium reduction for blood pressure: content analysis of Japanese posts on X.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- The Pitfalls of Ascribing Moral Agency to Corporations: Public Obligation and Political and Social Contexts in the Commercial Determinants of Health.The Milbank quarterly · 2024Article
- The Perils of Partnership: Interactions Between Public Health England, Drinkaware, and the Portman Group Surrounding the Drink Free Days Campaign.International journal of health policy and management · 2024Article
- Addressing tobacco industry influence in tobacco-growing countries.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2024Article
- Use of immunology in news and YouTube videos in the context of COVID-19: politicisation and information bubbles.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Characteristics of commercial determinants of health research on corporate activities: A scoping review.PloS one · 2024Article
- Gambling consumption and harm: a systematic review of the evidence.Addiction research & theory · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Background Manufacturers of harmful products engage in misinformation tactics long employed by the tobacco industry to emphasize uncertainty about scientific evidence and deflect negative attention from their products. This study assessed the effects of one type of tactic, the use of "alternative causation" arguments, on public understanding. Methods In five trials (one for each industry) anonymized Qualtrics panel respondents were randomized to receive a message on the risk in question from one of four industry sponsored organizations (exposure), or from one of four independent organizations (control), on risks related to alcohol, tobacco, fossil fuel and sugar sweetened beverages. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effect of industry arguments about uncertainty on the primary outcome of public certainty about product risk, adjusting for age, gender and education. The results from all five trials were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis. Findings In total, n=3284 respondents were exposed to industry-sponsored messaging about product-related risks, compared to n=3297 exposed to non-industry messages. Across all industries, exposure to industry-sponsored messages led to greater reported uncertainty or false certainty about risk, compared to non-industry messages [Summary odds ratio (OR) 1·60, confidence interval (CI) 1·28-1·99]. The effect was greater among those who self-rated as not/slightly knowledgeable (OR 2·24, CI 1·61-3·12), or moderately knowledgeable (OR 1·85, CI 1·38-2·48) compared to those very/extremely knowledgeable (OR 1·28, CI 1·03-1·60). Conclusions This study demonstrates that exposure to industry sponsored messages which appear intended to downplay risk significantly increases uncertainty or false certainty, with the effect being greater in less knowledgeable participants.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.