Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38106906›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2023

Analysis regarding the impact of 'fake news' on the quality of life of the population in a region affected by earthquake activity. The case of Romania-Northern Oltenia.

Flavius Cristian Mărcău, Cătălin Peptan, Vlad Dumitru Băleanu, Alina Georgiana Holt, Silviu Adrian Iana, Victor Gheorman

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Flavius Cristian Mărcău *Faculty of Education, Law and Public Administration, "Constantin Brâncuși" University of Târgu Jiu, Târgu Jiu, Romania.
Cătălin Peptan *Faculty of Education, Law and Public Administration, "Constantin Brâncuși" University of Târgu Jiu, Târgu Jiu, Romania.
Vlad Dumitru BăleanuFaculty of Medicine, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Alina Georgiana Holt *Faculty of Education, Law and Public Administration, "Constantin Brâncuși" University of Târgu Jiu, Târgu Jiu, Romania.
Silviu Adrian IanaDoctoral School Economics II, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania.
Victor Gheorman *Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
Constantin Brâncuși University of Targu Jiu · ROBucharest University of Economic Studies · ROCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy · ROUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova · RO

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to examine the impact of the wave of seismic activity in the northern region of Oltenia (Gorj County, Romania) in February 2023 and the belief in 'fake news' (circulated regarding causality, manifestations, and future developments of the seismic activity) on the quality of life of the affected population. It was considered opportune to conduct this study, given the novelty of such a situation, as the mentioned geographical area is not known to have a high seismic risk. Methods: The study was built based on the questionnaire to which 975 respondents, present/residing in Gorj County during the earthquakes and at least 14 days after, and with a minimum age of 18 years, responded. The data was collected between February 27, 2023, and March 31, 2023, at a reasonable time interval from the recording of the first seismic event in the region, assuming that the respondents' opinions regarding the negative impact of seismic events on societal life are well crystallized. The aim was to obtain information and analyze it in order to establish the respondents' perception regarding the negative effects of seismic activity and the elements of "fake news" promoted in this context on the quality of life of individuals in the region. Results: Our study indicates that individuals who are not concerned, due to their disbelief in "fake news" information, about the possibility of new strong earthquakes in the mentioned area feel the best physically, having an average satisfaction level of 82.80 (with a standard deviation of 19.70) on the WHOQOL-BREF scale. On the other hand, those who believed in the fake news experienced the lowest levels of psychological well-being, with an average satisfaction of 60.80 (and a standard deviation of 21.98). The WHOQOL-BREF is an instrument that assesses the quality of life across four distinct domains, and this study emphasizes the importance of accurate and trustworthy information for people's well-being. Conclusion: The results of the study highlight that the quality of life indicators of people in the geographic area affected by the wave of seismic movements are negatively impacted due to the release of "fake news" in the public domain regarding the cause of seismic movements in Gorj county (and the previous earthquakes in Turkey) and their future manifestations and developments (the possibility of high magnitude seismic movements), as well as the lack of information provided by the public authorities on the issue at hand (causes, effects, future manifestations, management measures).

Indexed as

EarthquakesAdolescentDisinformationHumansQuality of LifeRomaniaSurveys and Questionnairesauthorityearthquake“fake news”quality of lifesecurity

Identifiers

PMID38106906
PMCPMC10722165
OpenAlexW4389224930

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.