Beth L Hoffman1, Elizabeth M Felter2, Kar-Hai Chu3, Ariel Shensa4, Chad Hermann5, Todd Wolynn6, Daria Williams7, Brian A Primack8. 1. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States. Electronic address: blh72@pitt.edu. 2. Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States. Electronic address: emfelter@pitt.edu. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States. Electronic address: chuk@pitt.edu. 4. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address: ariel.shensa@pitt.edu. 5. Kids Plus Pediatrics, 4070 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15217, United States. Electronic address: chad@kidspluspgh.com. 6. Kids Plus Pediatrics, 4070 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15217, United States. Electronic address: todd@kidspluspgh.com. 7. Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address: dcw36@pitt.edu. 8. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States; Health Policy Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 311 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1218 Scaife Hall, 35505 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States. Electronic address: bprimack@pitt.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due in part to declining vaccination rates, in 2018 over 20 states reported at least one case of measles, and over 40,000 cases were confirmed in Europe. Anti-vaccine posts on social media may be facilitating anti-vaccination behaviour. This study aimed to systematically characterize (1) individuals known to publicly post anti-vaccination content on Facebook, (2) the information they convey, and (3) the spread of this content. METHODS: Our data set consisted of 197 individuals who posted anti-vaccination comments in response to a message promoting vaccination. We systematically analysed publicly-available content using quantitative coding, descriptive analysis, social network analysis, and an in-depth qualitative assessment. The final codebook consisted of 26 codes; Cohen's κ ranged 0.71-1.0 after double-coding. RESULTS: The majority (89%) of individuals identified as female. Among 136 individuals who divulged their location, 36 states and 8 other countries were represented. In a 2-mode network of individuals and topics, modularity analysis revealed 4 distinct sub-groups labelled as "trust," "alternatives," "safety," and "conspiracy." For example, a comment representative of "conspiracy" is that poliovirus does not exist and that pesticides caused clinical symptoms of polio. An example from the "alternatives" sub-group is that eating yogurt cures human papillomavirus. Deeper qualitative analysis of all 197 individuals' profiles found that these individuals also tended to post material against other health-related practices such as water fluoridation and circumcision. CONCLUSIONS: Social media outlets may facilitate anti-vaccination connections and organization by facilitating the diffusion of centuries old arguments and techniques. Arguments against vaccination are diverse but remain consistent within sub-groups of individuals. It would be valuable for health professionals to leverage social networks to deliver more effective, targeted messages to different constituencies.
BACKGROUND: Due in part to declining vaccination rates, in 2018 over 20 states reported at least one case of measles, and over 40,000 cases were confirmed in Europe. Anti-vaccine posts on social media may be facilitating anti-vaccination behaviour. This study aimed to systematically characterize (1) individuals known to publicly post anti-vaccination content on Facebook, (2) the information they convey, and (3) the spread of this content. METHODS: Our data set consisted of 197 individuals who posted anti-vaccination comments in response to a message promoting vaccination. We systematically analysed publicly-available content using quantitative coding, descriptive analysis, social network analysis, and an in-depth qualitative assessment. The final codebook consisted of 26 codes; Cohen's κ ranged 0.71-1.0 after double-coding. RESULTS: The majority (89%) of individuals identified as female. Among 136 individuals who divulged their location, 36 states and 8 other countries were represented. In a 2-mode network of individuals and topics, modularity analysis revealed 4 distinct sub-groups labelled as "trust," "alternatives," "safety," and "conspiracy." For example, a comment representative of "conspiracy" is that poliovirus does not exist and that pesticides caused clinical symptoms of polio. An example from the "alternatives" sub-group is that eating yogurt cures human papillomavirus. Deeper qualitative analysis of all 197 individuals' profiles found that these individuals also tended to post material against other health-related practices such as water fluoridation and circumcision. CONCLUSIONS: Social media outlets may facilitate anti-vaccination connections and organization by facilitating the diffusion of centuries old arguments and techniques. Arguments against vaccination are diverse but remain consistent within sub-groups of individuals. It would be valuable for health professionals to leverage social networks to deliver more effective, targeted messages to different constituencies.
Authors: Beth L Hoffman; Jason B Colditz; Ariel Shensa; Riley Wolynn; Sanya Bathla Taneja; Elizabeth M Felter; Todd Wolynn; Jaime E Sidani Journal: Vaccine Date: 2021-04-13 Impact factor: 4.169
Authors: Elvira Ortiz-Sánchez; Almudena Velando-Soriano; Laura Pradas-Hernández; Keyla Vargas-Román; Jose L Gómez-Urquiza; Guillermo A Cañadas-De la Fuente; Luis Albendín-García Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-07-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Pasquale Stefanizzi; Sara De Nitto; Francesco Patano; Francesco Paolo Bianchi; Davide Ferorelli; Paolo Stella; Domenica Ancona; Vito Bavaro; Silvio Tafuri Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2020-02-10 Impact factor: 3.452