Cognitive Dissonance–Based Priming Intervention: Randomized Encouragement With in-the-Wild Phishing Simulation Attack in Health Care - Report - MDSpire

Cognitive Dissonance–Based Priming Intervention: Randomized Encouragement With in-the-Wild Phishing Simulation Attack in Health Care

  • By

  • Prosper Kandabongee Yeng

  • Muhammad Ali Fauzi

  • Arnstein Vestad

  • Bian Yang

  • Katrien De Moor

  • Christian Jacobsen

  • John-Bosco Diekuu

  • Meriem Bettayeb

  • June 1, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Cognitive Dissonance Intervention in Healthcare Phishing Simulation

Overview

This study investigates a cognitive dissonance-based intervention aimed at reducing phishing susceptibility among healthcare employees during a live phishing simulation.

Background

Phishing is a significant threat in healthcare, contributing to data breaches and compromising patient safety. This study explores a novel intervention that targets cognitive dissonance to improve security behaviors in a clinical environment.

Data Highlights

No numerical data was provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • The study introduces a cognitive dissonance-based intervention delivered before a phishing simulation.
  • It aims to link cognitive dissonance to shifts in psychological security perceptions.
  • The intervention targets rationalization behaviors that contribute to phishing susceptibility.
  • Objective behavioral outcomes, such as actual link-click behavior, were measured.
  • This approach is designed to be lightweight and integrated into routine communication within healthcare settings.

Clinical Implications

Implementing cognitive dissonance interventions may enhance the effectiveness of phishing training in healthcare settings. By addressing psychological factors, such interventions could lead to improved security behaviors among healthcare employees.

Conclusion

The study presents findings on reducing phishing susceptibility through cognitive dissonance interventions in healthcare environments.

Related Resources & Content

  1. HHS Cyber Gateway, HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals, 2023 -- Cybersecurity Performance Goals
  2. Understanding the Efficacy of Phishing Training in Practice, 2025 -- Efficacy of Phishing Training
  3. The ASCO Post — Lessons of 2 Decades' Experience with CHESS
  4. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) — A Stepped Care Approach to Promoting Engagement in a Digital Health Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  5. npj Digital Medicine — Can co-designed educational interventions help consumers think critically about asking ChatGPT health questions? Results from a randomised-controlled trial
  6. Drug Safety — Public Perception, Choices, and Reactions to Varied Drug Safety Messaging in the U.S.: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Study
  7. HHS Cyber Gateway | Cybersecurity Performance Goals
  8. Understanding the Efficacy of Phishing Training in Practice
  9. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) - AMCIS 2025 Proceedings: Cognitive Dissonance and Persuasion for Smishing (CDP-S): A Conceptual Framework

Original Source(s)

Cognitive Dissonance–Based Priming Intervention: Randomized Encouragement With in-the-Wild Phishing Simulation Attack in Health Care

  • by Prosper Kandabongee Yeng, Muhammad Ali Fauzi, Arnstein Vestad, Bian Yang, Katrien De Moor, Christian Jacobsen, John-Bosco Diekuu, Meriem Bettayeb

  • June 1, 2026

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  • June 1, 2026