The Usage-Trust Gap: Information Sources, Trust, and COVID-19 Knowledge Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults in Rural Michigan

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experienced disproportionate COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, particularly in rural areas with limited public health infrastructure. This study examined primary COVID-19 information sources among AI/AN adults in rural Michigan and evaluated how trust in these sources relates to health knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination behaviors. We conducted a prospective, randomized pre-post interventional study among 273 adults at a tribal health clinic in rural Isabella County, Michigan (2022–2024). Participants were assigned to receive a culturally tailored educational video or infographic, and surveys assessed COVID-19 knowledge, vaccine attitudes, information sources, and perceived reliability. Social media was the most frequently used information source but was rated as less reliable, whereas healthcare workers (HCWs) were considered the most trusted. Reliance on HCWs and personal relationships was associated with higher baseline vaccine knowledge and greater uptake of influenza vaccination. Both educational formats resulted in modest improvements in COVID-19 knowledge and vaccine attitudes. While no consistent differences were observed between formats overall, infographic-based education was associated with greater gains in select vaccine knowledge domains among participants who relied on trusted interpersonal or clinical information sources. These findings highlight a “usage-trust gap” in rural AI/AN health communication, where frequently used information channels are not necessarily the most trusted. Culturally tailored messaging delivered through trusted clinical and interpersonal networks may enhance the effectiveness of public health communication and support vaccine uptake in underserved communities.