Vaccine and fluoride hesitancy among dentists: A cross-national study on misinformation, conspiratorial beliefs, and preventive health behaviors in Brazil and Finland

• Grant number: 25/21081-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 10, 2026
• End date: August 09, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Pediatric Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Cruvinel da Silva
• Grantee: Olívia Santana Jorge
• Supervisor: Anna Soveri
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/12604-2 - Impact of informational pollution against the use of fluorides on oral health behavior and dental caries development: An agent-based modeling, BP.DR

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as a critical global health threat, and similar skepticism surrounds the use of fluoride in caries prevention. Both phenomena are often fueled by misinformation, conspiratorial thinking, and declining trust in health authorities. Although dentists play a key role in promoting preventive care, they may hold beliefs that undermine evidence-based practices. This study aims to examine the relationship between conspiracy beliefs, trust in health authorities, attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), vaccine adherence, and use and recommendation of fluorides among dentists in Brazil and Finland - two countries with contrasting health systems, sociocultural contexts, and fluoride policies.Background: Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as a critical global health threat, and similar skepticism surrounds the use of fluoride in caries prevention. Both phenomena are often fueled by misinformation, conspiratorial thinking, and declining trust in health authorities. Although dentists play a key role in promoting preventive care, they may hold beliefs that undermine evidence-based practices.Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between conspiracy beliefs, trust in health authorities, attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), vaccine adherence, and use and recommendation of fluorides among dentists in Brazil and Finland - two countries with contrasting health systems, sociocultural contexts, and fluoride policies.Methods: A cross-sectional survey will be conducted using structured, culturally adapted electronic questionnaires distributed to dentists in Brazil and Finland. Key measures include influenza vaccine uptake, personal use and professional recommendation of fluoride, endorsement of conspiracy beliefs (related to vaccines and fluoride), trust in health authorities, and CAM. Descriptive statistics, correlation tests, and hierarchical linear regression models will be used to explore associations between these variables and identify predictors of vaccine and fluoride hesitancy.Expected outcomes: The study will provide comparative insights into how sociocultural, psychological, and institutional factors influence professional health behaviors. Findings will inform the development of targeted health communication strategies and public policies to address misinformation and improve the uptake of preventive health interventions.