title: Trust yet verify: physicians as trusted sources of health information on HPV for black women in socioeconomically marginalized populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is highest among Black women and women of low socio economic position (SEP). These groups face inequities in access to health information on HPV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study sought to understand key information channels for delivering health information regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine to Black women of low SEP in Boston, Massachusetts. We anticipated that, owing to a legacy of experiences of discrimination, Black women of low SEP would prefer information from trusted and accessible sources, including friends, family, and community agencies, rather than clinical providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative analysis using focus groups. We conducted five focus groups among 25 women in Boston, Massachusetts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to what we anticipated, we found that women in all of the focus groups preferred to receive information from a physician or health center. Participants preferred to receive print materials they could triangulate with other sources. Notably, study participants had high access to care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that physicians are trusted and preferred sources of information on HPV for Black women of low SEP in Boston. Our data underscore an important avenue for intervention: to improve dissemination of HPV-related information through physicians, including outreach in community settings.
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Nashira C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Baril
authors.forename: Erline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Achille
authors.forename: Shauntell
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kalahn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taylor-Clark
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gagne
authors.forename: Oluwakemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olukoya
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Huisingh
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ommerborn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viswanath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035502:Trust; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines