High Public Trust in Scientists for Cancer Information Across Political Ideologies in the U.S

Purpose: To examine whether political ideology is associated with trust in scientists as sources of cancer information in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The analytic sample included 6,260 non-institutionalized adults aged ≥18 years (response rate: 27.3%). Political ideology was measured on a 7-point scale ranging from “very liberal” to “very conservative.” Trust in scientists for cancer information was measured on a 4-point scale and dichotomized as high (some or a lot) vs low (not at all or a little). Survey-weighted logistic regression models were used to assess the association, controlling for demographic factors and trust in physicians. Results: Overall, 86.9% of respondents (95% CI, 84.4–87.5) reported high trust in scientists for cancer information. In multivariable models, each one-point shift toward greater conservatism on the political ideology scale was associated with a 25% decrease in the odds of high trust (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.68–0.84). Adjusted predicted probabilities ranged from 93.7% among very liberal respondents to 70.5% among those identifying as very conservative. Conclusions: Despite a politically polarized climate, trust in scientists as cancer information sources remains high across the U.S. adult population. However, the presence of an ideological gradient suggests the need for communication strategies that engage politically diverse audiences to ensure broad reach and effectiveness of cancer prevention and control messaging.