Table 1.
Media reports related to 4 most influential rumor cases before and after refuting the rumor.
| Case and time period | Rumor report, n (%) | Correct report, n (%) | P value | ||||
| Case A: The novel coronavirus can be prevented with “Shuanghuanglian” |
|
|
<.001 | ||||
|
|
Prerefutation | 534 (80.2) | 81 (12.2) |
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|||
|
|
Refuting the rumor (January 31, 11 PM to midnight) | 4445 (59.5) | 2079 (27.8) |
|
|||
|
|
Postrefutation | 5685 (12.5) | 36006 (78.9) |
|
|||
| Case B: The novel coronavirus is the SARS coronavirus |
|
|
<.001 | ||||
|
|
Prerefutation | 50 (10.8) | 412 (89.0) |
|
|||
|
|
Refuting the rumor (February 9, 9 PM to 10 PM) | 3848 (93.2) | 86 (2.1) |
|
|||
|
|
Postrefutation | 12004 (60.5) | 5444 (27.4) |
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|||
| Case C: Medical supplies intended for assisting Hubei were detained by the local government |
|
|
<.001 | ||||
|
|
Prerefutation | 1978 (94.1) | 3 (0.1) |
|
|||
|
|
Ongoing (February 10, 11 PM to midnight) | 1057 (87.8) | 51 (4.2) |
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|||
|
|
Postrefutation | 908 (23.9) | 2721 (71.7) |
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|||
| Case D: Asymptomatically infected persons were regarded as diagnosed COVID-19 patients with symptoms in official counts |
|
|
<.001 | ||||
|
|
Prerefutation | 120 (14.0) | 660 (76.7) |
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|||
|
|
Refuting the rumor (March 22, 7 AM to 8 AM) | 11 (7.6) | 126 (86.9) |
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|||
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|
Postrefutation | 192 (7.9) | 2171 (89.3) |
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