The internet’s role in HPV vaccine education

Abstract

T he internet is the second most popular source, after healthcare providers, of information regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). These online searches usually begin with the user entering generic terms in the search engine, and then reading the first few results that the engine returns. Unfortunately, research shows that much of this information obtained about the HPV vaccine is inaccurate and incomplete. In this review, we summarize the literature pertaining to online information concerning the HPV vaccine and review concerns related to obtaining online medical information. Finally, we propose possible solutions medical providers can employ in their everyday practice to help their patients obtain accurate information through their online searches. IntroductionAs many as 86% of adults in North America use the internet to access medical information, making it the third most frequent online activity.1,2 The quality of this information varies drastically, raising concerns when the information is used by individuals to make medical decisions.3,4 Internet information regarding the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is no exception. In this article, we review the current use of the internet and information available through this forum with regards to the HPV vaccine. We then analyze the potential concerns regarding this mode of information exchange and propose measures that may improve the quality of information available to the public. Teenagers and the InternetUp to half of US teenagers use the internet to obtain health information. 5,6 Having grown up in the digital age, adolescents are able to surf the internet with ease. More importantly, teenagers are able to access medical information anonymously, allowing them to research topics that would otherwise be embarrassing to discuss in person. For example, teenagers often use the internet to obtain information on topics such as depression, eating disorders, sexual health, and sexually transmitted diseases. This was demonstrated by Harvey et al. who found that many of the medical questions teenagers posed to the physician-operated website Teenage Health Freak were related to sexual health. 7 Even teenagers with lower socioeconomic background seek online health information which may be due to parents with lower education asking their children to search for health information for the entire family.8 Unfortunately, this reliance on teenagers to search for health information poses serious issues with regards to the quality of the information obtained and the interpretation of the data retrieved. 7,9Parents and the Internet Parents of higher education, frequently use the internet to research their children's health problems. 10 In their study of 998 parents who accompanied their child to a primary care doctor's visit, Moseley et al. found that almost all (96%) had used the internet to obtain information on their child's health prior to the clinic

Strength of belief: Religious commitment, knowledge, and HPV vaccination adherence

“…Having grown up in a time of easy internet access, teenagers and young adults can surf the web with ease; thus, finding information related to HPV would not be challenging. The internet is the second most popular source of information, after health care providers, for information regarding HPV . Private surfing permits adolescents, teens, and young adults to search for information that otherwise might not be acceptable by family and church members.…”

“…The internet is the second most popular source of information, after health care providers, for information regarding HPV. 33 Private surfing permits adolescents, teens, and young adults to search for information that otherwise might not be acceptable by family and church members. Harvey et al 34 Young adults in our study often incorrectly identified cancers associated with HPV, and most were unaware of the prevalence of HPV in society.…”

Readability of online information about HPV Immunization

“…These results expand on the assertion by Patel et al that healthcare providers should be educated on what information is available on the internet: healthcare providers should also understand what information would be accessible to the average reader. 8 Previous studies of HPV information on the internet have focused on whether the text encouraged or discouraged parents from vaccinating their children. 5 Our results suggest that further research is warranted to compare popular pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination websites based on readability.…”

Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania

“…The importance of information sources on HPV infection has been demonstrated through numerous studies which showed that individuals gathering information from the Internet had a higher level of knowledge and were more likely to accept HPV vaccine [ 30 , 31 ]. Healthcare professionals shared medical information with their patients and the general public using social media.…”