title: Contribution of communication inequalities to disparities in human papillomavirus vaccine awareness and knowledge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the association of Internet-related communication inequalities on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine awareness and infection knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  We drew data from National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 7674). We estimated multivariable logistic regression models to assess Internet use and Internet health information seeking on HPV vaccine awareness and infection knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-Internet users, compared with general Internet users, had significantly lower odds of being aware of the HPV vaccine (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34, 0.51) and knowing that HPV causes cervical cancer (OR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.52, 0.95). Among general health information seekers, non-Internet seekers compared with Internet information seekers exhibit significantly lower odds of HPV vaccine awareness (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.46, 0.75), and of knowing about the link between HPV infection and cervical cancer (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.99) and the sexual transmission of HPV (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.57, 0.89). Among cancer information seekers, there were no differences in outcomes between Internet seekers and non-Internet seekers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a communication channel, such as the Internet, whose use is already socially and racially patterned, may widen observed disparities in vaccine completion rates.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA. ekontos@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Emily Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Emmons
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puleo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viswanath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines