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INTRODUCTIONIn the digital age, Internet and social networks are the most important media for exchanging information and personal experiences. Individuals with health problems can use social media to increase their knowledge about diseases and treatment, often having the Internet as their main information source. Vaccines have been classified as one of the most important medical discoveries of all time. Vaccination acceptance is considered critical for the prevention of contagious diseases. The present study attempted to investigate the general public's perceptions on vaccination and their sources of information about vaccines, in Greece. METHODS The study was conducted through a web-based survey. The questionnaire consisted of closed-ended, 7-point Likert scale questions and multiple-choice questions. The data collected were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Also, bivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential predictor variables concerning information sources on the participants' opinions on vaccines. RESULTSResponses by 683 individuals were obtained. Healthcare professionals are considered by the participants as the preferred source of information on vaccination. Older age groups express a higher degree of agreement regarding doctors as preferred information source, compared to the younger ones. More than 60% of the participants choose to be informed by official bodies such as the National Public Health Organization, the Ministry of Health, the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. A small proportion of the respondents (8%) stated that often to always they preferred social media as information sources about vaccinations. Doctors and Ministry of Health as sources of information and older age groups were found to be strong predictors of participants' positive attitude towards vaccines. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that the vast majority of the participants are positive about vaccinations and seem to rely on more official sources of information on vaccination than the general Internet and social media. Communication efforts on vaccination awareness should be directed at younger ages and in particular through social media.

PurposeCurrently, knowing where to seek for reliable information may be one of the most important human skills. Data reliability is a matter of debate. The online dissemination of information has been a field for the reproduction of fake news. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) states that libraries are part of the answer to this ever-increasing problem. The purpose of the study is to investigate libraries' role in combating the fake news phenomenon.Design/methodology/approachThe study was designed to record attitudes of professionals and students of library science on the libraries' role in the battle against misinformation. The study was conducted through an online survey using a questionnaire consisted of closed-ended, seven-point Likert scale questions. The data collected were subjected to a descriptive statistical analysis. The median was used to present the results. In order to perform analysis between genders, as well as age groups, the non-parametric criteria Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis were applied to determine the existence of differences in participants' beliefs. Spearman's rank correlation test was used in order to examine whether participants' replies were interrelated.FindingsResponses by 434 individuals were obtained. Participants highlighted primarily the educational role of libraries and agreed that the fake news phenomenon is an opportunity to promote the libraries' role in society. No clear direction was recorded in the participants' beliefs about the plethora of information and fake news as a potential threat to libraries. The respondents partly agreed that the plethora of information caused work-related emotional disorders and feeling that the respondents were not able to keep track of developments in the field. Finally, the study depicted the participants' need for training on combating fake news, information sources evaluation and recognizing predatory journals.Originality/valueThe study's significance lies in the following: the study contributes to the recording of professionals' as well as students of library science views about (1) libraries' role, (2) working environment and (3) training needs, concerning fake news and the overabundance of information in the digital era.

Purpose In the digital era individuals are overwhelmed by huge amount of readily available information. The information provided at the time of COVID-19 crisis is increasingly available. The purpose of this paper was to investigate individuals’ perceived feelings due to the plethora of information during COVID-19 pandemic in Greece in Spring 2020. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted through a Web-based questionnaire survey posted on the Google Forms platform. The questionnaire consisted of closed-ended, seven-point Likert-scale questions. The data collected were subjected to a principal component analysis. The retained principal components (PCs) were subjected to statistical analysis between genders and among age groups and professional status with the nonparametric criteria Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis. Findings Responses by 776 individuals were obtained. Seventeen original variables from the questionnaire were summarized into three PCs that explained the 71.7% of total variance: “affective disorders,” “uncertainty issues and inaccurate information worries” and “satisfaction and optimism.” Participants partly agree that the received amount of information on the disease caused them feelings of uncertainty about the future and worries about relatives’ lives, but also satisfaction with developments in the country. Females seem to experience stronger perceived feelings of “affective disorders” (p < 0.001) and reported higher degree of agreement about “uncertainty issues and inaccurate information worries.” Originality/value The recorded feelings caused by the volume of available information may have forced people accept the necessary precautionary behavioral changes that had contributed to the Greek success in preventing spread of the disease in Spring 2020.

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