Science communication scholarship in Lithuania: A scoping study

This study analyzes the extent, range and nature of science communication scholarship in Lithuania. The purpose of this study is to explore whether there is a presence of this research field in the Lithuanian academic context and if there exists a body of empirical evidence that can be used to inform practical science communication initiatives. More generally, this study asks: is there a science of science communication in Lithuania? Results indicate the presence of an emerging field of research with fragmented scientific activity. Most papers do not explicitly identify “science communication” as the object of study. Most of the relevant work is focused on audience research, indicating the potential for using the results for evidence-based science communication practice. The science of science communication in Lithuanian, however, has yet considerable room for growth and could benefit from more large-scale, nationally representative, data-driven and methodologically sound research

Lithuanians' perceptions of vaccination and their sources of information: a literature review

Objective: Attitudes towards vaccination are important drivers of vaccination decisions and behavior. But researchers have pointed to the shortage of such studies on Eastern Europe. Methods: A literature review of 14 survey studies was conducted. Results: The review showed that Lithuanians’ attitudes towards vaccines appear to be volatile with considerable discrepancy between views about the importance of vaccines and their perceived effectiveness and safety. Perceptions of vaccine risks are high, with Lithuanians challenging both specific vaccines (children’s, flu) and vaccination in general. Lithuanians’ perceptions of vaccine importance are among the lowest in the EU (24th out of 28 countries). Conclusions: Lithuanians do not entirely reject vaccines, but many are worried about their health impact. More studies are needed to explore vaccine perceptions in Lithuania and potential factors shaping those, like media representations