Tsuyoshi Okuhara1, Hirono Ishikawa2, Masahumi Okada3, Mio Kato4, Takahiro Kiuchi5. 1. Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: okuhara-ctr@umin.ac.jp. 2. Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: hirono-tky@umin.ac.jp. 3. Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: sokada-tuk@umin.ac.jp. 4. Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: mkato-ctr@umin.ac.jp. 5. Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: tak-kiuchi@umin.ac.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In Japan, the HPV vaccination rate has sharply fallen to nearly 0% due to a series of sensational media reports of adverse events. Online anti-HPV-vaccination activists often warn readers of the vaccine's dangers. We aimed to examine distribution and readability of pro-and anti-vaccination online messages with relation to these authors' professional expertise. METHODS: We conducted online searches via two major search engines. Identified sites were classified as "anti," "pro," or "neutral" depending on their claims, and "health professional" or "non-health professional" depending on their authors' expertise. Readability was determined using a validated measure of Japanese readability. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test. RESULTS: Of the total 270 sites analyzed, up to 137 (50.7%) were deemed anti- and 101 (37.4%) pro-HPV-vaccination. Of the pro-vaccination sites 71% were written by health professionals. Anti-vaccination messages were found to be considerably easier to read than pro-vaccination ones; both among those by health professionals and non-health professionals. CONCLUSION: Our findings substantiate concern that the anti messages may serve to prolong the HPV vaccination crisis. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We recommend that health professionals use readability assessment tools and improve the text for easier reading if necessary.
OBJECTIVE: In Japan, the HPV vaccination rate has sharply fallen to nearly 0% due to a series of sensational media reports of adverse events. Online anti-HPV-vaccination activists often warn readers of the vaccine's dangers. We aimed to examine distribution and readability of pro-and anti-vaccination online messages with relation to these authors' professional expertise. METHODS: We conducted online searches via two major search engines. Identified sites were classified as "anti," "pro," or "neutral" depending on their claims, and "health professional" or "non-health professional" depending on their authors' expertise. Readability was determined using a validated measure of Japanese readability. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test. RESULTS: Of the total 270 sites analyzed, up to 137 (50.7%) were deemed anti- and 101 (37.4%) pro-HPV-vaccination. Of the pro-vaccination sites 71% were written by health professionals. Anti-vaccination messages were found to be considerably easier to read than pro-vaccination ones; both among those by health professionals and non-health professionals. CONCLUSION: Our findings substantiate concern that the anti messages may serve to prolong the HPV vaccination crisis. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We recommend that health professionals use readability assessment tools and improve the text for easier reading if necessary.
Authors: Toader Septimiu Voidăzan; Mihaela Alexandra Budianu; Florin Francisc Rozsnyai; Zsolt Kovacs; Cosmina Cristina Uzun; Nicoleta Neagu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-06 Impact factor: 4.614