Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media

Sharing personal experiences is an important communication strategy in public health, including vaccination. This study sought to understand if parents would be receptive to learning about the HPV vaccine from other parent experiences, and what format this information should take on social media. In...

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Main Authors: Philip M. Massey, Elikem Togo, Shawn C. Chiang, Ann C. Klassen, Meredith Rose, Jennifer A. Manganello, Amy E. Leader
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
Series:Preventive Medicine Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521001789
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author Philip M. Massey
Elikem Togo
Shawn C. Chiang
Ann C. Klassen
Meredith Rose
Jennifer A. Manganello
Amy E. Leader
author_facet Philip M. Massey
Elikem Togo
Shawn C. Chiang
Ann C. Klassen
Meredith Rose
Jennifer A. Manganello
Amy E. Leader
author_sort Philip M. Massey
collection DOAJ
description Sharing personal experiences is an important communication strategy in public health, including vaccination. This study sought to understand if parents would be receptive to learning about the HPV vaccine from other parent experiences, and what format this information should take on social media. In May 2020, we conducted a qualitative study of six online focus groups across the U.S. with parents (n = 48) of children ages 9–14. Using a text-based discussion format, we discussed their experiences getting information about the HPV vaccine and using Twitter to learn about health topics. Four coders structured qualitative findings by themes including content, delivery, and source of information. An accompanying survey was used to describe participant Twitter use and HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes. The average participant age was 44.6 years old, 63% were mothers, and the majority had high HPV vaccine knowledge. Parents indicated that they want to hear from other parents about their experiences with the HPV vaccine. However, it was hard to know where to find this information. When experiences are shared on social media, the negative ones are more memorable and more personal. Parents thought Twitter could be an important space to communicate about the HPV vaccine if it was done in a credible, verifiable, and authentic way. Parents want to learn about the HPV vaccine through other parent experiences, especially when this aligns with science supporting the vaccine. Public health and medical communities must embrace this mix of evidence and lived experiences to deliver and discuss health information.
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spelling doaj.art-a7f455cb483f4a43bb1f0421811972ec2022-12-21T20:03:05ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552021-09-0123101488Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social mediaPhilip M. Massey0Elikem Togo1Shawn C. Chiang2Ann C. Klassen3Meredith Rose4Jennifer A. Manganello5Amy E. Leader6Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United States; Corresponding author at: Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, 3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United StatesDepartment of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United StatesDepartment of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United StatesDepartment of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United StatesDepartment and Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, School of Public Health, Albany University, United StatesDivision of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, United StatesSharing personal experiences is an important communication strategy in public health, including vaccination. This study sought to understand if parents would be receptive to learning about the HPV vaccine from other parent experiences, and what format this information should take on social media. In May 2020, we conducted a qualitative study of six online focus groups across the U.S. with parents (n = 48) of children ages 9–14. Using a text-based discussion format, we discussed their experiences getting information about the HPV vaccine and using Twitter to learn about health topics. Four coders structured qualitative findings by themes including content, delivery, and source of information. An accompanying survey was used to describe participant Twitter use and HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes. The average participant age was 44.6 years old, 63% were mothers, and the majority had high HPV vaccine knowledge. Parents indicated that they want to hear from other parents about their experiences with the HPV vaccine. However, it was hard to know where to find this information. When experiences are shared on social media, the negative ones are more memorable and more personal. Parents thought Twitter could be an important space to communicate about the HPV vaccine if it was done in a credible, verifiable, and authentic way. Parents want to learn about the HPV vaccine through other parent experiences, especially when this aligns with science supporting the vaccine. Public health and medical communities must embrace this mix of evidence and lived experiences to deliver and discuss health information.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521001789HPV vaccineCancer preventionSocial mediaNarrative communicationAdolescent health
spellingShingle Philip M. Massey
Elikem Togo
Shawn C. Chiang
Ann C. Klassen
Meredith Rose
Jennifer A. Manganello
Amy E. Leader
Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
Preventive Medicine Reports
HPV vaccine
Cancer prevention
Social media
Narrative communication
Adolescent health
title Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
title_full Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
title_fullStr Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
title_full_unstemmed Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
title_short Identifying HPV vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
title_sort identifying hpv vaccine narrative communication needs among parents on social media
topic HPV vaccine
Cancer prevention
Social media
Narrative communication
Adolescent health
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521001789
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