Young I, Bhulabhai M, Papadopoulos A. Safe Food Handling Advice Provided on Question-and-Answer Web Sites Is Inconsistent.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2020;
52:688-696. [PMID:
31948743 DOI:
10.1016/j.jneb.2019.12.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of information about safe food handling posted on online question-and-answer (Q&A) Web sites and forums.
DESIGN
A retrospective study was conducted to analyze answers to questions posted on 4 Q&A platforms (Reddit, Yahoo! Answers, Quora, and Stack Exchange) employing a structured coding form. Questions were identified from November 2018 to May 2019 using an iterative search.
PARTICIPANTS
Users of online Q&A platforms.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Answer accuracy (incorrect, partially correct, or correct in relation to government guidelines).
ANALYSIS
A multivariable ordinal regression model was developed to identify factors associated (at the P < .01 level) with answer accuracy.
RESULTS
Questions (n = 160) were posted from 2006 to 2019. Of 625 answers to these questions, 41% were classified as correct, and 20% as partially correct. Answer accuracy differed among the 4 platforms. Answers to questions about adequate cooking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.49, P < .001) and time-temperature control (OR = 0.33, 95% CI, 0.21-0.51, P < .001) constructs were less likely to be correct than answers to other questions. Top-rated answers were more likely to be correct than other answers (OR = 2.01, 95% CI, 1.40-2.90, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
The accuracy of food safety information exchanged on online Q&A platforms is inconsistent. Enhanced food safety promotion and education interventions on these platforms are warranted.
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