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McCollum G, Allgood A, Agne A, Cleveland D, Gray C, Ford E, Baral S, Mugavero M, Hall AG. Associations Between Social Networks and COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in 4 Rural Alabama Counties: Survey Findings. Public Health Rep 2024:333549241250223. [PMID: 38780015 DOI: 10.1177/00333549241250223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how vaccination decisions are influenced by misinformation, disinformation, and social pressures, leading to varied and inequitable uptake rates. In this study, we examined how COVID-19 vaccine messages received via social networks were associated with vaccine uptake in rural Alabama. METHODS From November 2021 through March 2022, we collected 700 responses to a telephone survey administered in 4 rural Alabama counties. We asked respondents to indicate whether certain social relationships (eg, family, businesses) tried to influence them to (1) obtain or (2) avoid a COVID-19 vaccine. We used χ2 tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mantel-Haenszel χ2 tests, and Fisher exact tests to examine the associations between vaccination status and survey responses. RESULTS Respondents in majority-African American counties were significantly more likely than those in majority-White counties to have received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (89.8% vs 72.3%; P < .001). Respondents who received ≥1 dose had a significantly higher mean age than those who had not (58.0 vs 39.0 years; P < .001). Respondents who were encouraged to get vaccinated by religious leaders were more likely to have received ≥1 dose (P = .001), and those who were encouraged to avoid vaccination by family (P = .007), friends (P = .02), coworkers (P = .003), and health care providers (P < .001) were less likely to have received ≥1 dose. Respondents with more interpersonal relationships that encouraged them to avoid vaccination were more likely to be unvaccinated (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Interpersonal relationships and demographic characteristics appeared to be important in COVID-19 vaccine decision-making in rural Alabama. Further research needs to identify how to facilitate vaccine-positive interpersonal relationships, such as peer mentoring and trusted messenger interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer McCollum
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ashleigh Allgood
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - April Agne
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Dave Cleveland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Cicily Gray
- Community Health Program, Department of Health and Human Services, School of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eric Ford
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael Mugavero
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Allyson G Hall
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Engel E, Gell S, Heiss R, Karsay K. Social media influencers and adolescents' health: A scoping review of the research field. Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116387. [PMID: 38039770 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Social media influencers (SMIs) have become an important source of health information for adolescents. However, the lack of expertise and commercial interests of SMIs pose challenges for adolescent health. To gain a better understanding of these challenges, this scoping review aimed to synthesize existing research on the role of SMIs in adolescent health. Using the PRISMA-ScR approach, we conducted a comprehensive search of eight databases and screened articles based on predefined criteria. The final sample included 51 articles published between 2012 and 2022. Results revealed inconsistent definitions and classifications of SMIs. The most common topics included appearance, nutrition, and substance use, while mental and sexual health topics were underrepresented. The ability of SMIs to establish trustworthy relationships with their followers was highlighted in the reviewed studies, shedding light on potential benefits and challenges for adolescent health. However, most studies focused on the negative roles of SMIs, such as the promotion of unrealistic body images, unhealthy diets, substance use, and inaccurate diagnosis and treatment advice. In addition, inappropriate advertising of unhealthy products (e.g., junk food, tobacco products and alcohol) was identified as a major challenge. The reviewed studies identified stricter regulation and improved social media and health literacy as important avenues for policy action. Less attention was given to the potential positive impact of SMIs and how to effectively include them in health promotion campaigns. In addition, the majority of studies were conducted in the Global North and relied on quantitative approaches, resulting in a lack of representation of minority populations and male adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Engel
- University of Vienna, Department of Communication, Kolingasse 14-16, 1070 Vienna, Austria; MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation, Universitätsstraße 15, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Sascha Gell
- University of Vienna, Department of Communication, Kolingasse 14-16, 1070 Vienna, Austria; MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation, Universitätsstraße 15, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Raffael Heiss
- MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation, Universitätsstraße 15, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Kathrin Karsay
- University of Vienna, Department of Communication, Kolingasse 14-16, 1070 Vienna, Austria.
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Davies C, Mann A. Factors influencing women to accept diet and exercise messages on social media during COVID-19 lockdowns: A qualitative application of the health belief model. Health Mark Q 2023; 40:415-433. [PMID: 37021625 DOI: 10.1080/07359683.2023.2193076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates how engagement with social media leads women to adopt diet and exercise practices. We base our analysis on qualitative research, including surveys and in-depth interviews, with thirty (30) Australian women aged 18-35 years between April and August 2021. Our findings reveal how healthism discourse on social media, namely Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, underpin the adoption of diet and exercise practices by enhancing experiences of digital intimacy, repeat messages and personal testimonials from other women, and supporting new routines during COVID-19 lockdowns. This article contributes to health marketing literature by providing critical knowledge about women's experiences that prompt and shape complex ideologies of health that are often masked through diet and exercise practices on social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Davies
- Department of Media and Communications, University of Sydney, Hobart, Australia
| | - Alana Mann
- The Media School, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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4
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Fasce A, Schmid P, Holford DL, Bates L, Gurevych I, Lewandowsky S. A taxonomy of anti-vaccination arguments from a systematic literature review and text modelling. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:1462-1480. [PMID: 37460761 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The proliferation of anti-vaccination arguments is a threat to the success of many immunization programmes. Effective rebuttal of contrarian arguments requires an approach that goes beyond addressing flaws in the arguments, by also considering the attitude roots-that is, the underlying psychological attributes driving a person's belief-of opposition to vaccines. Here, through a pre-registered systematic literature review of 152 scientific articles and thematic analysis of anti-vaccination arguments, we developed a hierarchical taxonomy that relates common arguments and themes to 11 attitude roots that explain why an individual might express opposition to vaccination. We further validated our taxonomy on coronavirus disease 2019 anti-vaccination misinformation, through a combination of human coding and machine learning using natural language processing algorithms. Overall, the taxonomy serves as a theoretical framework to link expressed opposition of vaccines to their underlying psychological processes. This enables future work to develop targeted rebuttals and other interventions that address the underlying motives of anti-vaccination arguments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Fasce
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Philipp Schmid
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
- Department of Implementation Research, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dawn L Holford
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Luke Bates
- Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab/Department of Computer Science and Hessian Center for AI (hessian.AI), Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Iryna Gurevych
- Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab/Department of Computer Science and Hessian Center for AI (hessian.AI), Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephan Lewandowsky
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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5
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De Nicola G, Tuekam Mambou VH, Kauermann G. COVID-19 and social media: Beyond polarization. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad246. [PMID: 37564362 PMCID: PMC10411931 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brought upon a massive wave of disinformation, exacerbating polarization in the increasingly divided landscape of online discourse. In this context, popular social media users play a major role, as they have the ability to broadcast messages to large audiences and influence public opinion. In this article, we make use of openly available data to study the behavior of popular users discussing the pandemic on Twitter. We tackle the issue from a network perspective, considering users as nodes and following relationships as directed edges. The resulting network structure is modeled by embedding the actors in a latent social space, where users closer to one another have a higher probability of following each other. The results suggest the existence of two distinct communities, which can be interpreted as "generally pro" and "generally against" vaccine mandates, corroborating existing evidence on the pervasiveness of echo chambers on the platform. By focusing on a number of notable users, such as politicians, activists, and news outlets, we further show that the two groups are not entirely homogeneous, and that not just the two poles are represented. To the contrary, the latent space captures an entire spectrum of beliefs between the two extremes, demonstrating that polarization, while present, is not the only driver of the network, and that more moderate, "central" users are key players in the discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo De Nicola
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Victor H Tuekam Mambou
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, 81679 Munich, Germany
| | - Göran Kauermann
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
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6
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Dubé E, Trottier ME, Gagnon D, Bettinger JA, Greyson D, Graham J, MacDonald NE, MacDonald SE, Meyer SB, Witteman HO, Driedger SM. Exploring parents' views of the use of narratives to promote childhood vaccination online. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284107. [PMID: 37467300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Negative information about vaccines that spreads online may contribute to parents' vaccine hesitancy or refusal. Studies have shown that false claims about vaccines that use emotive personal narratives are more likely to be shared and engaged with on social media than factual evidence-based public health messages. The aim of this study was to explore parents' views regarding the use of positive narratives to promote childhood vaccination. METHODS We identified three ∼4-minute video narratives from social media that counter frequent parental concerns about childhood vaccination: parents and informed decision-making (online misinformation about vaccines); a paediatrician's clinical experience with vaccine-preventable diseases (prevention of still existing diseases); and a mother's experience with vaccine-preventable disease (risks of the disease). Focus group discussions were held with parents of children aged 0 to 5 years to assess their views on these three narratives and their general opinion on the use of narratives as a vaccine promotion intervention. RESULTS Four focus groups discussions were virtually held with 15 parents in December 2021. In general, parents trusted both health care provider's and parent's narratives, but participants identified more with stories having a parent as the main character. Both narratives featuring personal stories with vaccine-preventable diseases were preferred by parents, while the story about informed decision-making was perceived as less influential. Parents expressed the need for reliable and nuanced information about vaccines and diseases and felt that a short video format featuring a story was an efficient vaccine promotion intervention. However, many mentioned that they generally are not watching such videos while navigating the Web. CONCLUSION While vaccine-critical stories are widely shared online, evidence on how best public health could counter these messages remains scarce. The use of narratives to promote vaccination was well-perceived by parents. Future studies are needed to assess reach and impact of such an intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Dubé
- Department of Anthropology, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biohazard, Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Trottier
- Department of Biohazard, Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dominique Gagnon
- Department of Biohazard, Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julie A Bettinger
- Department of Pediatrics, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Devon Greyson
- Department of Pediatrics, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Janice Graham
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Noni E MacDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Shannon E MacDonald
- Faculty of Nursing, University, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Samantha B Meyer
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Holly O Witteman
- Department of Family Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - S Michelle Driedger
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Khadafi R, Nurmandi A, Qodir Z, Misran. Hashtag as a new weapon to resist the COVID-19 vaccination policy: a qualitative study of the anti-vaccine movement in Brazil, USA, and Indonesia. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2042135. [PMID: 35240923 PMCID: PMC9009927 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2042135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the anti-vaccine movement one of the top 10 global health threats. This trend has shown that it can diminish public faith in government and increase public distrust of scientific results in the health sector, including the use of the COVID-19 vaccine. The purpose of this study is to examine the anti-vaccine movement on Twitter social media platform, which uses Hashtag to protest vaccination regulations in the COVID-19 pandemic. The content analysis, relationship analysis, and word cloud analysis models were used in this study, which used a descriptive qualitative approach. The primary data source for this study is Hashtag, which are used to focus on three aspects. First, establish which information in Brazil, the United States, and Indonesia leads the anti-vaccine COVID-19 narrative. Second, how does the Hashtag link between each country work? Third, which narrative dominates the use of Hashtag in each of the three countries? According to the findings of this study, in Brazil, 69.2% of Twitter Hashtag associated to the COVID-19 vaccination were negative, compared to 59.4% in the USA and 62.8% in Indonesia. In general, the Hashtag used in the three countries to oppose COVID-19 vaccination policies have a clear and significant relationship. In Brazil, the Hashtag #covidiots was the most popular, while in the United States, #covivaccine was the most popular, and in Indonesia, #antivaccine was the most popular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizal Khadafi
- Departement of Islamic Politics - Political Science, Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta, Bantul, Indonesia
| | - Achmad Nurmandi
- Departement of Islamic Politics - Political Science, Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta, Bantul, Indonesia
| | - Zuly Qodir
- Departement of Islamic Politics - Political Science, Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta, Bantul, Indonesia
| | - Misran
- Departement of Islamic Politics - Political Science, Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta, Bantul, Indonesia
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8
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Coman IA, Xu S, Yamamoto M. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Disadvantaged Groups’ Experience with Perceived Barriers, Cues to Action, and Attitudes. Am J Health Promot 2022; 37:488-498. [PMID: 36306535 PMCID: PMC9618917 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221136113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Drawing from the Health Belief Model, we explored how disadvantaged groups in the U.S., including Black, Hispanic, less educated and wealthy individuals, experienced perceived barriers and cues to action in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination. Design A cross-sectional survey administered in March 2021. Setting USA Subjects A national sample of U.S. residents (n = 795) recruited from Prolific. Measures Perceived barriers (clinical, access, trust, religion/spiritual), cues to action (authorities, social circles), attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Analysis Factor analysis and Structural Equation Model (SEM) were performed in STATA 16. Results Black and less educated individuals experienced higher clinical barriers (CI [.012, .33]; CI [.027, .10]), trust barriers (CI [.49, .92]; CI [.057, .16]), and religious/spiritual barriers (CI [.28, .66]; CI [.026, .11]). Hispanics experienced lower levels of clinical barriers (CI [-.42, .0001]). Clinical, trust, and religious/spiritual barriers were negatively related to attitudes toward vaccination (CI [-.45, −.15]; CI [-.79, −.51]; CI [-.43, −.13]). Black and less educated individuals experienced fewer cues to action by authority (CI [-.47, −.083]; CI [-.093, −.002]) and social ties (CI [-.75, −.33]; CI [-.18, −.080]). Lower-income individuals experienced fewer cues to action by social ties (CI [-.097, −.032]). Cues from social ties were positively associated with vaccination attitudes (CI [.065, .26]). Conclusion Communication should be personalized to address perceived barriers disadvantaged groups differentially experience and use sources who exert influences on these groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana A Coman
- College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Shan Xu
- College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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9
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Yiannakoulias N, Darlington JC, Slavik CE, Benjamin G. Negative COVID-19 Vaccine Information on Twitter: Content Analysis. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e38485. [PMID: 36348980 PMCID: PMC9632001 DOI: 10.2196/38485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, have a role in spreading anti-vaccine opinion and misinformation. Vaccines have been an important component of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, so content that discourages vaccination is generally seen as a concern to public health. However, not all negative information about vaccines is explicitly anti-vaccine, and some of it may be an important part of open communication between public health experts and the community. Objective This research aimed to determine the frequency of negative COVID-19 vaccine information on Twitter in the first 4 months of 2021. Methods We manually coded 7306 tweets sampled from a large sampling frame of tweets related to COVID-19 and vaccination collected in early 2021. We also coded the geographic location and mentions of specific vaccine producers. We compared the prevalence of anti-vaccine and negative vaccine information over time by author type, geography (United States, United Kingdom, and Canada), and vaccine developer. Results We found that 1.8% (131/7306) of tweets were anti-vaccine, but 21% (1533/7306) contained negative vaccine information. The media and government were common sources of negative vaccine information but not anti-vaccine content. Twitter users from the United States generated the plurality of negative vaccine information; however, Twitter users in the United Kingdom were more likely to generate negative vaccine information. Negative vaccine information related to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was the most common, particularly in March and April 2021. Conclusions Overall, the volume of explicit anti-vaccine content on Twitter was small, but negative vaccine information was relatively common and authored by a breadth of Twitter users (including government, medical, and media sources). Negative vaccine information should be distinguished from anti-vaccine content, and its presence on social media could be promoted as evidence of an effective communication system that is honest about the potential negative effects of vaccines while promoting the overall health benefits. However, this content could still contribute to vaccine hesitancy if it is not properly contextualized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Yiannakoulias
- School of Earth, Environment and Society McMaster University Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - J Connor Darlington
- School of Geography and Environmental Management University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON Canada
| | - Catherine E Slavik
- Center for Science Communication Research School of Journalism and Communication University of Oregon Eugene, OR United States
| | - Grant Benjamin
- Department of Economics University of Toronto Toronto, ON Canada
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10
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Vaccine discourse during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: Topical structure and source patterns informing efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271394. [PMID: 35895626 PMCID: PMC9328525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding public discourse about a COVID-19 vaccine in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic may provide key insights concerning vaccine hesitancy. However, few studies have investigated the communicative patterns in which Twitter users participate discursively in vaccine discussions. Objectives This study aims to investigate 1) the major topics that emerged from public conversation on Twitter concerning vaccines for COVID-19, 2) the topics that were emphasized in tweets with either positive or negative sentiment toward a COVID-19 vaccine, and 3) the type of online accounts in which tweets with either positive or negative sentiment were more likely to circulate. Methods We randomly extracted a total of 349,979 COVID-19 vaccine-related tweets from the initial period of the pandemic. Out of 64,216 unique tweets, a total of 23,133 (36.03%) tweets were classified as positive and 14,051 (21.88%) as negative toward a COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted Structural Topic Modeling and Network Analysis to reveal the distinct topical structure and connection patterns that characterize positive and negative discourse toward a COVID-19 vaccine. Results Our STM analysis revealed the most prominent topic emerged on Twitter of a COVID-19 vaccine was “other infectious diseases”, followed by “vaccine safety concerns”, and “conspiracy theory.” While the positive discourse demonstrated a broad range of topics such as “vaccine development”, “vaccine effectiveness”, and “safety test”, negative discourse was more narrowly focused on topics such as “conspiracy theory” and “safety concerns.” Beyond topical differences, positive discourse was more likely to interact with verified sources such as scientists/medical sources and the media/journalists, whereas negative discourse tended to interact with politicians and online influencers. Conclusions Positive and negative discourse was not only structured around distinct topics but also circulated within different networks. Public health communicators need to address specific topics of public concern in varying information hubs based on audience segmentation, potentially increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
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11
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Yin JDC. Media Data and Vaccine Hesitancy: Scoping Review. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e37300. [PMID: 37113443 PMCID: PMC9987198 DOI: 10.2196/37300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Media studies are important for vaccine hesitancy research, as they analyze how the media shapes risk perceptions and vaccine uptake. Despite the growth in studies in this field owing to advances in computing and language processing and an expanding social media landscape, no study has consolidated the methodological approaches used to study vaccine hesitancy. Synthesizing this information can better structure and set a precedent for this growing subfield of digital epidemiology. Objective This review aimed to identify and illustrate the media platforms and methods used to study vaccine hesitancy and how they build or contribute to the study of the media's influence on vaccine hesitancy and public health. Methods This study followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus for any studies that used media data (social media or traditional media), had an outcome related to vaccine sentiment (opinion, uptake, hesitancy, acceptance, or stance), were written in English, and were published after 2010. Studies were screened by only 1 reviewer and extracted for media platform, analysis method, the theoretical models used, and outcomes. Results In total, 125 studies were included, of which 71 (56.8%) used traditional research methods and 54 (43.2%) used computational methods. Of the traditional methods, most used content analysis (43/71, 61%) and sentiment analysis (21/71, 30%) to analyze the texts. The most common platforms were newspapers, print media, and web-based news. The computational methods mostly used sentiment analysis (31/54, 57%), topic modeling (18/54, 33%), and network analysis (17/54, 31%). Fewer studies used projections (2/54, 4%) and feature extraction (1/54, 2%). The most common platforms were Twitter and Facebook. Theoretically, most studies were weak. The following five major categories of studies arose: antivaccination themes centered on the distrust of institutions, civil liberties, misinformation, conspiracy theories, and vaccine-specific concerns; provaccination themes centered on ensuring vaccine safety using scientific literature; framing being important and health professionals and personal stories having the largest impact on shaping vaccine opinion; the coverage of vaccination-related data mostly identifying negative vaccine content and revealing deeply fractured vaccine communities and echo chambers; and the public reacting to and focusing on certain signals-in particular cases, deaths, and scandals-which suggests a more volatile period for the spread of information. Conclusions The heterogeneity in the use of media to study vaccines can be better consolidated through theoretical grounding. Areas of suggested research include understanding how trust in institutions is associated with vaccine uptake, how misinformation and information signaling influence vaccine uptake, and the evaluation of government communications on vaccine rollouts and vaccine-related events. The review ends with a statement that media data analyses, though groundbreaking in approach, should supplement-not supplant-current practices in public health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Dean-Chen Yin
- School of Public Health Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China (Hong Kong)
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12
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Markovitz NH, Strome AL, Patel PK. Commentary: "The vaccine Selfie" and its influence on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Vaccine 2022; 40:3085-3086. [PMID: 35487813 PMCID: PMC9042418 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Netana H Markovitz
- Michigan Medicine: University of Michigan Hospital, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; University of Michigan Medical School, 7300 Medical Science Building I - A Wing, 1301 Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Arianna L Strome
- Michigan Medicine: University of Michigan Hospital, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; University of Michigan Medical School, 7300 Medical Science Building I - A Wing, 1301 Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Payal K Patel
- Michigan Medicine: University of Michigan Hospital, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; University of Michigan Medical School, 7300 Medical Science Building I - A Wing, 1301 Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Taubman Center at Michigan Medicine, 1500 East Medical Center Drive Floor 3/Reception D, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States; VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (111-i), 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States.
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Li L, Zhou J, Ma Z, Bensi MT, Hall MA, Baecher GB. Dynamic assessment of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance leveraging social media data. J Biomed Inform 2022; 129:104054. [PMID: 35331966 PMCID: PMC8935963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination is the most effective way to provide long-lasting immunity against viral infection; thus, rapid assessment of vaccine acceptance is a pressing challenge for health authorities. Prior studies have applied survey techniques to investigate vaccine acceptance, but these may be slow and expensive. This study investigates 29 million vaccine-related tweets from August 8, 2020 to April 19, 2021 and proposes a social media-based approach that derives a vaccine acceptance index (VAI) to quantify Twitter users’ opinions on COVID-19 vaccination. This index is calculated based on opinion classifications identified with the aid of natural language processing techniques and provides a quantitative metric to indicate the level of vaccine acceptance across different geographic scales in the U.S. The VAI is easily calculated from the number of positive and negative Tweets posted by a specific users and groups of users, it can be compiled for regions such a counties or states to provide geospatial information, and it can be tracked over time to assess changes in vaccine acceptance as related to trends in the media and politics. At the national level, it showed that the VAI moved from negative to positive in 2020 and maintained steady after January 2021. Through exploratory analysis of state- and county-level data, reliable assessments of VAI against subsequent vaccination rates could be made for counties with at least 30 users. The paper discusses information characteristics that enable consistent estimation of VAI. The findings support the use of social media to understand opinions and to offer a timely and cost-effective way to assess vaccine acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyao Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Jiayan Zhou
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Statistics, Eberly College of Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Zihui Ma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Michelle T Bensi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Molly A Hall
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; The Huck Institutes of the Life Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Gregory B Baecher
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Decouttere C, Banzimana S, Davidsen P, Van Riet C, Vandermeulen C, Mason E, Jalali MS, Vandaele N. Insights into vaccine hesitancy from systems thinking, Rwanda. Bull World Health Organ 2021; 99:783-794D. [PMID: 34737471 PMCID: PMC8542260 DOI: 10.2471/blt.20.285258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate vaccine hesitancy leading to underimmunization and a measles outbreak in Rwanda and to develop a conceptual, community-level model of behavioural factors. METHODS Local immunization systems in two Rwandan communities (one recently experienced a measles outbreak) were explored using systems thinking, human-centred design and behavioural frameworks. Data were collected between 2018 and 2020 from: discussions with 11 vaccination service providers (i.e. hospital and health centre staff); interviews with 161 children's caregivers at health centres; and nine validation interviews with health centre staff. Factors influencing vaccine hesitancy were categorized using the 3Cs framework: confidence, complacency and convenience. A conceptual model of vaccine hesitancy mechanisms with feedback loops was developed. FINDINGS A comparison of service providers' and caregivers' perspectives in both rural and peri-urban settings showed that similar factors strengthened vaccine uptake: (i) high trust in vaccines and service providers based on personal relationships with health centre staff; (ii) the connecting role of community health workers; and (iii) a strong sense of community. Factors identified as increasing vaccine hesitancy (e.g. service accessibility and inadequate follow-up) differed between service providers and caregivers and between settings. The conceptual model could be used to explain drivers of the recent measles outbreak and to guide interventions designed to increase vaccine uptake. CONCLUSION The application of behavioural frameworks and systems thinking revealed vaccine hesitancy mechanisms in Rwandan communities that demonstrate the interrelationship between immunization services and caregivers' vaccination behaviour. Confidence-building social structures and context-dependent challenges that affect vaccine uptake were also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stany Banzimana
- East African Community Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Pål Davidsen
- System Dynamics Group, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carla Van Riet
- Research Center for Access-to-Medicines, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Elizabeth Mason
- Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Technology Assessment, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Mohammad S Jalali
- Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Technology Assessment, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Nico Vandaele
- Research Center for Access-to-Medicines, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Yang Z, Luo X, Jia H. Is It All a Conspiracy? Conspiracy Theories and People's Attitude to COVID-19 Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1051. [PMID: 34696159 PMCID: PMC8540771 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A large body of research has found that people's beliefs in conspiracy theories about infectious diseases negatively impacts their health behaviors concerning vaccination. Conspiracy belief-based vaccination hesitancy has become more rampant after the global outbreak of COVID-19. However, some important questions remain unanswered. For instance, do different versions of conspiracy theories-particularly conspiracy theories about the origin of the epidemic (e.g., that the SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a Wuhan virology laboratory or that the virus was of foreign origin) and the general theories about vaccine conspiracies (e.g., pharmaceutical companies covered up the danger of vaccines or people are being deceived about the effectiveness of vaccines)-have the same effect on vaccination intentions? Through a national survey adopting quota sampling in China, the current study tested the relationship between people's conspiracy beliefs and their intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The findings show that people's embrace of conspiracy theories did indeed affect their intention to take COVID-19 shots. However, only conspiracy theories related to vaccines had a significant impact, while belief in more general theories about COVID-19 did not significantly affect vaccination intentions. People's knowledge of vaccines (vaccine literacy) played an important role in this relationship. People with lower beliefs in vaccines conspiracy theories and higher levels of vaccine literacy were more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xi Luo
- School of Communication, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China; (Z.Y.); (H.J.)
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16
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Zhou F, Zhang W, Cai H, Cao Y. Portrayals of 2v, 4v and 9vHPV vaccines on Chinese social media: a content analysis of hot posts on Sina Weibo. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:4433-4441. [PMID: 34543155 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1971016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rather than receive the effective 2vHPV vaccines that are readily available in China, Chinese women usually wait to receive 4v and 9vHPV vaccines, which are difficult to acquire. This means that Chinese women miss the opportunity for optimal protection from cervical cancer. As social media platforms are the main channel by which Chinese women learn about HPV vaccines, this study aimed to explore how HPV vaccines are described on social media, and in particular how they discuss or distinguish 2 v, 4 v and 9vHPV vaccines. The Octopus Web crawler tool was used to capture hot Weibo posts from 2013-2021, and 1,164 valid data were obtained. Results suggested that there are very few posts with great influence on Weibo about HPV vaccines among 9 years and much of them are created by "lay people." HPV-related topics lacked persistent popularity, comprised highly repetitive content and the spread of information was geographically diverse. There were significant differences in the media descriptions of different kinds of HPV vaccines. Price was mentioned more often in the descriptions of 2vHPV vaccines, whereas appointments were referred to most often in the descriptions of 9vHPV vaccines. There was little media attention paid to the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccines. Chinese media should develop better collaborations with public health professionals, pay more attention to the originality of their news coverage of HPV vaccines and strive to promote HPV vaccination. Such collaboration will help news media to better understand the key points of HPV information that need to be disseminated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhou Zhou
- School of Journalism and Culture Communication, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Wen Zhang
- School of Journalism and Culture Communication, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Hongning Cai
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yuan Cao
- Analytical and Testing Center, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
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17
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Benedict JJ, Derkay CS. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: A 2020 perspective. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2021; 6:340-345. [PMID: 33869767 PMCID: PMC8035938 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite recent advancement recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) remains a rare but challenging benign airway neoplasm. In recent years there has been significant shifts in incidence of this disease due to changes in vaccination and prevention for human papilloma virus (HPV) and its related pathology. This review will highlight the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of RRP. METHODS The PubMed database was searched using relevant MeSH terms including "recurrent respiratory papillomatosis." The titles and abstracts were reviewed to assess relevance and unrelated articles were excluded. A full-text review for select articles was performed, the data and discussions were interpreted and synthesized to create a concise update on the management of RRP. RESULTS With the increasing utilization of the 9-valent and quadrivalent HPV vaccine in Australia, we have seen a significant decrease in the incidence of RRP. Preliminary data in the US shows a similar trend of decreased incidence after implementation of vaccination. Single dose Gardasil in developing countries has shown sustained immunization for at least 7 years. Preliminary clinical trials and retrospective studies have shown the HPV vaccine may have benefit as a treatment method in addition to prevention for HPV related diseases. Bevacizumab (Avastin), a VEGF monoclonal antibody, has shown promise as a systemic treatment for RRP. The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected perioperative management of RRP. CONCLUSION RRP continues to decline in incidence since the implementation of HPV vaccination. Advancement in the medical management including Bevacizumab show promise as an additional option for the management of RRP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J. Benedict
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolSentara Norfolk General HospitalNorfolkVirginiaUSA
| | - Craig S. Derkay
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolChildren's Hospital of the King's DaughtersNorfolkVirginiaUSA
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