Sorting through search results: a content analysis of HPV vaccine information online.
BACKGROUND
Surveys have shown that many people now turn to the Internet for health information when making health-related decisions. This study systematically analyzed the HPV vaccine information returned by online search engines. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is the leading cause of cervical cancers.


METHODS
We conducted a content analysis of 89 top search results from Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask.com. The websites were analyzed with respect to source, tone, information related to specific content analyzed through the lens of the Health Belief Model, and in terms of two content themes (i.e., conspiracy theories and civil liberties). The relations among these aspects of the websites were also explored.


RESULTS
Most websites were published by nonprofit or academic sources (34.8%) and governmental agencies (27.4%) and were neutral in tone (57.3%), neither promoting nor opposing the HPV vaccine. Overall, the websites presented suboptimal or inaccurate information related to the five behavioral predictors stipulated in the Health Belief Model. Questions related to civil liberties were present on some websites.


CONCLUSIONS
Health professionals designing online communication with the intent of increasing HPV vaccine uptake should take care to include information about the risks of HPV, including susceptibility and severity. Additionally, websites should include information about the benefits of the vaccine (i.e., effective against HPV), low side effects as a barrier that can be overcome, and ways in which to receive the vaccine to raise individual self-efficacy.
Department of Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-7635, USA. kmadden@umd.edu
Kelly
K
Madden
Xiaoli
X
Nan
Rowena
R
Briones
Leah
L
Waks
D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D061108:Social Media / Q000639:trends*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines