title: Parents' Internet use for information about HPV vaccine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Internet is an increasingly common source of health-related information. We sought to examine associations between parents' Internet information-seeking and their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed parents within a year after approval of HPV vaccine for females and males. Participants were North Carolina parents with daughters ages 10-18 surveyed by telephone in Fall 2007 (n=773); and a national sample of parents with sons ages 11-17 surveyed online in Fall 2010 (n=115). We used multivariate regression to examine associations of past and intended Internet seeking for HPV vaccine information with knowledge and health belief model-related constructs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among parents of daughters, having heard of HPV vaccine through the Internet (8%) was associated with higher HPV knowledge, perceived likelihood of HPV, and vaccination willingness, and with receiving a doctor's recommendation. It was also associated with lower perceived vaccine harms, uncertainty, and anticipated regret. Parents of sons who heard of HPV vaccine through the Internet (10%) perceived greater barriers to vaccination than parents who learned about HPV vaccine for males through other sources. Intended future Internet information-seeking among parents of daughters (69%) was more likely if they perceived a lower likelihood that their daughters would get HPV if they were vaccinated (all p<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a positive influence of accessing information on the Internet about HPV vaccine. It was associated with higher knowledge and mostly positive parental attitudes and beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 Rosenau Hall, CB 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. almcree@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Annie-Laurie
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McRee
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Noel T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Brewer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; 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*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D010290:Parents; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines