Many Americans Trust Health Care Providers, Scientific Researchers
The survey results show 1 in 4 Americans ranked health care access and affordability as their highest public health priority for government officials to address.
Many Americans categorized health care providers, scientific researchers, and the CDC as their most trusted source of public health information, according to a survey from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and Gallup.1 Further, 1 in 4 Americans ranked health care access and affordability as their highest public health priority for government officials to address.
Further, 1 in 4 Americans ranked health care access and affordability as their highest public health priority for government officials to address. | Image Credit: Zamrznuti tonovi | stock.adobe.com
“The survey reinforces that Americans, across demographics and party lines, mostly agree on the public health issues that touch their daily lives. Public health is at a crossroads, but the survey is clear—Americans think we have more work to do. Prioritizing these issues in the new administration could be unifying,” Stephen Patrick, MD, chair of the department of health policy and management at Emory University, said in a news release.1
Investigators administered a survey from December 2, 2024, until December 15, 2025, for adults in the United States who were 18 years and older and members of Gallup’s probability-based panel. There were a total of 2121 adults included, and the sample matched national demographics, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and region.2
The results showed that the top 3 concerns included health care access and cost, safety of food and water, and reducing chronic diseases, with 52%, 37%, and 32%, respectively, placing those topics in the top 3 concerns. For the highest priority, safety of food and water and reducing chronic diseases were at 18% and 11%, respectively. Investigators noted that across socioeconomic demographic groups, such as gender, age, education, and income, ranked health care access as a top priority, but the percentage of individuals differed in subgroups, with non-Hispanic White Americans and Hispanic Americans (26% and 29%, respectively) being more likely to rate health care access as their highest priority compared with non-Hispanic Black Americans (17%). For income, those with a higher income ($90,000 or more) ranked health care access as a higher priority compared to lower household income (less than $48,000).2
Approximately 75% of those who ranked health care access and affordability as their highest priority indicated that the federal government would be better than state governments at addressing it, which was similar to those who identified preparing for infectious disease and future pandemics, strengthening safety net programs, and addressing health effects of climate change. Those who ranked improving health in rural communities and reducing loneliness/social isolation indicated that the state governments would be more effective.2
The survey also asked Americans to select the top 3 most trusted sources of information, with doctors, nurses, and other health care providers being selected in the top 3 for 54%, scientific research and studies being 42%, and the CDC being 37%. However, the investigators noted that this varied slightly by age and education level. Young adults (aged 18 to 29) were more likely to rank the top 3 as scientific research (44%), health care providers (43%), and CDC (37%), and those 65 years and older ranked the top 3 as health care providers (69%), CDC (42%), or scientific research and studies (38%). As for education level, Americans with a high school education or less ranked the top 3 as health care providers (51%), CDC (30%), or scientific research (26%), and those with a postgraduate degree ranked the top 3 as scientific research (64%), health care provider (59%), and CDC (50%).2
Furthermore, Americans believe that the United States lost ground on the opioid epidemic (54%), mental health (50%), and healthy diets and lifestyles (47%). Americans only had slightly positive views for the outcome of chronic disease, with 36% stating the US made progress and 30% saying the US lost ground.2
“Understanding the issues that matter to Americans is critical when determining where to center federal public health efforts. It is also important to understand the sources people trust most for their knowledge when making health-related decisions for themselves and their communities," M. Daniele Fallin, PhD, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health, said in the news release.1 “This survey provides government and public health leaders valuable insight into what Americans believe are the highest priorities moving forward and who they trust most to protect the health and safety of our people.”
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