# Many Americans don't rely on any single source when making health decisions

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/many-americans-dont-rely-on-any-single-source-when-making-health-decisions/

> Indexed question in Health.

## Reading

Americans deciding whether to follow public health recommendations don't converge on any one voice: the largest share (24%) say they don't rely on any of the sources asked about, and nearly as many (23%) say all of the sources influence them equally, a November 2025 Verasight survey finds.

Federal agencies such as the CDC lead the individual sources at 17%, with international organizations such as the World Health Organization next at 14%. Local government (9%), community organizations (7%) and state government (7%) round out the list.

## Topline

When deciding whether to follow public health recommendations, which of these sources most influences your decisions?

Many Americans don't rely on any single source when making health decisions.

- None - I do not rely on these sources when making health decisions: 23.8%
- All of these sources influence me equally: 22.6%
- Federal government (e.g., Center for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health): 16.7%
- International organizations (e.g., World Health Organization): 13.6%
- Local government (e.g., city or county health department): 8.5%
- Community organizations (e.g., local clinics, nonprofits, faith-based groups): 7.5%
- State government: 7.3%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-11-14 → 2025-11-20
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.2%
- Module: Module 2
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#influential-sources-for-following-public-health-recommendations](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#influential-sources-for-following-public-health-recommendations)

## Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#influential-sources-for-following-public-health-recommendations](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#influential-sources-for-following-public-health-recommendations)