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Khare J, Kalra S, Jindal S. Sociocrinology: Impact of Social Media on Endocrine Health - A Review. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2023; 27:480-485. [PMID: 38371192 PMCID: PMC10871011 DOI: 10.4103/ijem.ijem_250_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Social media (SM) refers to social networking sites (SNSs), which are defined as online services that enable individuals to build a public or semi-public profile and give them the opportunity to create a network of contacts and interact. SM affects all aspects of life and may offer new opportunities to explore new experiences and perspectives of life because of its feasibility. But several times, because of feasibility, misinformation is generated intentionally or unintentionally, which spreads rapidly, and such misinformation can affect all aspects of life. However, health-related misinformation can be life-threatening to individuals. Endocrinology is the branch of medicine that deals with endocrine glands and hormones, which regulates mood, growth, development, metabolism and the way our organ works to maintain internal homeostasis. SM usage and endocrine health impact each other in both positive and negative ways. So, in this review, we will discuss about the effect of SM on Endocrine health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaideep Khare
- Department of Endocrinology, People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Director Hormone and Skin Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- DM Endocrinology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Sushil Jindal
- Department of Endocrinology, People’s College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Qasim R, Farooqui WA, Rahman A, Haroon R, Saleem M, Rafique M, Noor F, Ghani A, Yaqoob M, Yadav UN, Yousafzai MT. Community centred co-design methodology for designing and implementing socio-behavioural interventions to counter COVID-19 related misinformation among marginalized population living in the squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan: a methodology paper. BMC Proc 2023; 17:15. [PMID: 37438805 DOI: 10.1186/s12919-023-00265-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination is damaging COVID-19 vaccine trust and acceptance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Identification of misinformation and designing locally acceptable solutions are needed to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. This study aimed to utilize community-led co-design methodology to evaluate misinformation regarding COVID-19 and develop contextual interventions to address misinformation in a marginalized peri urban slum communities of Landhi town Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS This study was conducted between January and December 2021, in marginalized peri-urban slum dwellers of Muslimabad Colony, Landhi Town Karachi, Pakistan. We used a community-centred co-design methodology embedded within mixed study design to identify misinformation, co-design, test and implement locally acceptable solutions. The co-design methodology involved five stages of the design thinking model: (1) Empathize, (2) Define, (3) Ideate, (4) Prototype, and (5) Test. The project involved active engagement and participation of wide range of stakeholders and community beneficiaries (end users) including local EPI vaccinators, informal healthcare workers, religious leaders (male and female), schoolteachers (male and female), local government representatives, community leaders, housewives, youth, and general population. To develop a trusting relationship, and understand local culture, values, practices, and traditions, we allowed one month of observation period (observe, engage, watch, and listen) in the beginning, followed by door-to-door survey along with focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) at baseline. Co-design workshops (separate for male and female) were conducted at each stage of co-design methodology to design and test locally acceptable solutions. CONCLUSION Community-centred co-design methodology was not only successful in designing, testing, and evaluating locally acceptable solutions but it also actively engaged and empowered the marginalized population living in peri urban slum communities of Karachi, Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubina Qasim
- Dow Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
| | | | - Atiya Rahman
- Indus College of Medical Technology & Allied Health, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rukhsana Haroon
- Dow Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Madiha Saleem
- Dow Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rafique
- Indus College of Nursing & Midwifery, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fiza Noor
- Indus College of Nursing & Midwifery, The Indus Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Afifa Ghani
- Dept. of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yaqoob
- Dow Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Uday Narayan Yadav
- Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, ACT, Canberra, Australia
| | - Mohammad T Yousafzai
- Dept. of Pediatrics & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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3
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Lathan HS, Kwan A, Takats C, Tanner JP, Wormer R, Romero D, Jones HE. Ethical considerations and methodological uses of Facebook data in public health research: A systematic review. Soc Sci Med 2023; 322:115807. [PMID: 36889221 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115807] [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] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Since 2016, around seven in 10 adults in the United States (U.S.) actively use Facebook. While much Facebook data is publicly available for research, many users may not understand how their data are being used. We sought to examine to what extent research ethical practices were employed and the research methods being used with Facebook data in public health research. METHODS We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO registration CRD42020148170) of social media-based public health research focused on Facebook published in peer-reviewed journals in English between January 1, 2006 and October 31, 2019. We extracted data on ethical practices, methodology, and data analytic approaches. For studies that included verbatim user content, we attempted to locate users/posts within a timed 10-min period. RESULTS Sixty-one studies met eligibility criteria. Just under half (48%, n = 29) sought IRB approval and six (10%) sought and obtained informed consent from Facebook users. Users' written content appeared in 39 (64%) papers, of which 36 presented verbatim quotes. We were able to locate users/posts within 10 min for half (50%, n = 18) of the 36 studies containing verbatim content. Identifiable posts included content about sensitive health topics. We identified six categories of analytic approaches to using these data: network analysis, utility (i.e., usefulness of Facebook as a tool for surveillance, public health dissemination, or attitudes), associational studies of users' behavior and health outcomes, predictive model development, and two types of content analysis (thematic analysis and sentiment analysis). Associational studies were the most likely to seek IRB review (5/6, 83%), while those of utility (0/4, 0%) and prediction (1/4, 25%) were the least likely to do so. CONCLUSIONS Stronger guidance on research ethics for using Facebook data, especially the use of personal identifiers, is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Stuart Lathan
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Amy Kwan
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Courtney Takats
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua P Tanner
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Wormer
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Diana Romero
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Heidi E Jones
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA; City University of New York Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, USA.
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Osuagwu UL, Mashige KP, Ovenseri-Ogbomo G, Envuladu EA, Abu EK, Miner CA, Timothy CG, Ekpenyong BN, Langsi R, Amiebenomo OM, Oloruntoba R, Goson PC, Charwe DD, Ishaya T, Agho KE. The impact of information sources on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:38. [PMID: 36609264 PMCID: PMC9816548 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14972-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccination remains the most powerful weapon against the emergence of new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19). However, false information about COVID-19 vaccines through various platforms including social media remains a major threat to global public health. This study examined the impact of information sources on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS A validated web-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 14 March to 16 May 2021, and was administered in both French and English to 2572 participants aged 18 years and over. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical and vaccination history, and the information sources (mainstream media and social media) used by the participants during the pandemic were obtained. There were three main outcomes: The vaccinated group were those who responded in the affirmation (Yes) to the question of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who responded 'not sure' or 'no' to the question were then asked if they were willing to be vaccinated when the vaccine became available in their home countries. The responses to this follow-up question were used to derive the second and third outcome variables of 'vaccine hesitancy' and 'vaccine resistance', respectively. A series of logistic regression analyses were used to examine the impact of information sources on the three main outcomes. RESULTS The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the participants was lowest among newspaper readers (42%) and highest among TV (72%) and social media users (73%). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine-resistance was also lowest among newspaper readers (37%) but highest among social media users (87%). Multivariate analyses revealed that compared to those who did not use these information sources, SSA participants who relied on the radio (aOR 0.83, 95%CI = 0.70, 0.99), TV (aOR 0.80, 95%CI = 0.65, 0.97) and social media (aOR 0.79, 95%CI = 0.65, 0.97) for information during the pandemic were less likely to be hesitant towards taking the vaccines. However, social media users (aOR 2.13, 95%CI = 1.62, 2.80), those who watched TV (aOR 1.40, 95%CI =1.08, 1.80), relied on healthcare workers (HCWs: aOR 1.32, 95%CI = 1.07, 1.63) and families/friends (aOR 1.31, 95%CI = 1.06, 1.61) for COVID-19 related information during the pandemic were more likely to resist taking the COVID vaccines in this study. Participants who relied on the newspaper for information during the pandemic were less likely to resist the vaccines (aOR 0.77, 95%CI = 0.62, 0.95) compared to non-readers of a newspaper. CONCLUSION We found that all six information sources except radio were strong predictors of the resistance towards COVID-19 vaccination. Further research on how these channels can be used to improve the availability of reliable healthcare information is needed. Investments in these resources will protect people and empower them to make appropriate choices about their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uchechukwu L. Osuagwu
- grid.1029.a0000 0000 9939 5719Bathurst Rural Clinical School (BRCS), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Bathurst, Bathurst, NSW 2795 Australia ,grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123African Vision Research Institute, Discipline of Optometry, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 3629 South Africa ,grid.1029.a0000 0000 9939 5719Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbeltown, NSW 2560 Australia
| | - Khathutshelo P. Mashige
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123African Vision Research Institute, Discipline of Optometry, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 3629 South Africa
| | - Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo
- grid.23378.3d0000 0001 2189 1357Department of Optometry, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, IV2 3JH UK
| | - Esther Awazzi Envuladu
- grid.412989.f0000 0000 8510 4538Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, 930003 Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Kwasi Abu
- grid.413081.f0000 0001 2322 8567Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, 00233 Ghana
| | - Chundung Asabe Miner
- grid.412989.f0000 0000 8510 4538Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, 930003 Nigeria
| | - Chikasirimobi G. Timothy
- grid.442592.c0000 0001 0746 093XDepartment of Optometry, Faculty of Health sciences, Mzuzu University, P. Bag 201 Luwinga 2,, Mzuzu, Malawi
| | - Bernadine N. Ekpenyong
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123African Vision Research Institute, Discipline of Optometry, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 3629 South Africa ,grid.413097.80000 0001 0291 6387Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Calabar, 540271 Nigeria
| | - Raymond Langsi
- grid.449799.e0000 0004 4684 0857Health Division, University of Bamenda, Bambili, P. O. Box 39, Cameroon
| | - Onyekachukwu M. Amiebenomo
- grid.413068.80000 0001 2218 219XDepartment of Optometry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria ,School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Richard Oloruntoba
- grid.1032.00000 0004 0375 4078School of Management and Marketing, Curtin Business School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6151 Australia
| | - Piwuna Christopher Goson
- grid.412989.f0000 0000 8510 4538Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Deborah Donald Charwe
- grid.419861.30000 0001 2217 1343Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, P. O. Box 977, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tanko Ishaya
- grid.412989.f0000 0000 8510 4538Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, 930003 Nigeria
| | - Kingsley E. Agho
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123African Vision Research Institute, Discipline of Optometry, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 3629 South Africa ,grid.1029.a0000 0000 9939 5719Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbeltown, NSW 2560 Australia ,grid.1029.a0000 0000 9939 5719School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560 Australia
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Ginossar T, Cruickshank IJ, Zheleva E, Sulskis J, Berger-Wolf T. Cross-platform spread: vaccine-related content, sources, and conspiracy theories in YouTube videos shared in early Twitter COVID-19 conversations. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:1-13. [PMID: 35061560 PMCID: PMC8920146 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.2003647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
High uptake of vaccinations is essential in fighting infectious diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Social media play a crucial role in propagating misinformation about vaccination, including through conspiracy theories and can negatively impact trust in vaccination. Users typically engage with multiple social media platforms; however, little is known about the role and content of cross-platform use in spreading vaccination-related information. This study examined the content and dynamics of YouTube videos shared in vaccine-related tweets posted to COVID-19 conversations before the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. We screened approximately 144 million tweets posted to COVID-19 conversations and identified 930,539 unique tweets in English that discussed vaccinations posted between 1 February and 23 June 2020. We then identified links to 2,097 unique YouTube videos that were tweeted. Analysis of the video transcripts using Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling and independent coders indicate the dominance of conspiracy theories. Following the World Health Organization's declaration of the COVID-19 outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, anti-vaccination frames rapidly transitioned from claiming that vaccines cause autism to pandemic conspiracy theories, often featuring Bill Gates. Content analysis of the 20 most tweeted videos revealed that the majority (n = 15) opposed vaccination and included conspiracy theories. Their spread on Twitter was consistent with spamming and coordinated efforts. These findings show the role of cross-platform sharing of YouTube videos over Twitter as a strategy to propagate primarily anti-vaccination messages. Future policies and interventions should consider how to counteract misinformation spread via such cross-platform activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Ginossar
- Department of Communication and Journalism, Institute for Social Research, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Iain J. Cruickshank
- Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elena Zheleva
- Computer Science Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jason Sulskis
- Computer Science Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tanya Berger-Wolf
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical, Computer Engineering, and Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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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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7
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Marcon AR, Wagner DN, Giles C, Isenor C. Web-Based Perspectives of Deemed Consent Organ Donation Legislation in Nova Scotia: Thematic Analysis of Commentary in Facebook Groups. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e38242. [PMID: 37113450 PMCID: PMC9987187 DOI: 10.2196/38242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The Canadian province of Nova Scotia recently became the first jurisdiction in North America to implement deemed consent organ donation legislation. Changing the consent models constituted one aspect of a larger provincial program to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation rates. Deemed consent legislation can be controversial among the public, and public participation is integral to the successful implementation of the program. Objective Social media constitutes key spaces where people express opinions and discuss topics, and social media discourse can influence public perceptions. This project aimed to examine how the public in Nova Scotia responded to legislative changes in Facebook groups. Methods Using Facebook's search engine, we searched for posts in public Facebook groups using the terms "deemed consent," "presumed consent," "opt out," or "organ donation" and "Nova Scotia," appearing from January 1, 2020, to May 1, 2021. The finalized data set included 2337 comments on 26 relevant posts in 12 different public Nova Scotia-based Facebook groups. We conducted thematic and content analyses of the comments to determine how the public responded to the legislative changes and how the participants interacted with one another in the discussions. Results Our thematic analysis revealed principal themes that supported and critiqued the legislation, raised specific issues, and reflected on the topic from a neutral perspective. Subthemes showed individuals presenting perspectives through a variety of themes, including compassion, anger, frustration, mistrust, and a range of argumentative tactics. The comments included personal narratives, beliefs about the government, altruism, autonomy, misinformation, and reflections on religion and death. Content analysis revealed that Facebook users reacted to popular comments with "likes" more than other reactions. Comments with the most reactions included both negative and positive perspectives about the legislation. Personal donation and transplantation success stories, as well as attempts to correct misinformation, were some of the most "liked" positive comments. Conclusions The findings provide key insights into perspectives of individuals from Nova Scotia on deemed consent legislation, as well as organ donation and transplantation broadly. The insights derived from this analysis can contribute to public understanding, policy creation, and public outreach efforts that might occur in other jurisdictions considering the enactment of similar legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro R Marcon
- Health Law Institute Faculty of Law University of Alberta Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Darren N Wagner
- Health Law Institute Faculty of Law University of Alberta Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Carly Giles
- Health Law Institute Faculty of Law University of Alberta Edmonton, AB Canada
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Oliveira ISD, Cardoso LS, Ferreira IG, Alexandre-Silva GM, Jacob BDCDS, Cerni FA, Monteiro WM, Zottich U, Pucca MB. Anti-vaccination movements in the world and in Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:e05922021. [PMID: 35613224 PMCID: PMC9131779 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0592-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the years, vaccinations have provided significant advances in public health, because they substantially reduce the morbimortality of vaccine-preventable diseases. Nevertheless, many people are still hesitant to be vaccinated. Brazil is a region of many anti-vaccine movements, and several outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as yellow fever and measles, have occurred in the country during the last few years. To avoid new outbreaks, immunization coverage must be high; however, this is a great challenge to achieve due to the countless anti-vaccine movements. The World Health Organization has suggested new actions for the next decade via the Immunization Agenda 2030 to control, reduce, or eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases. Nonetheless, the vaccination coverage has decreased recently. To resolve the anti-vaccine issue, it is necessary to propose a long-term approach that involves innovative education programs on immunization and critical thinking, using different communication channels, including social media. Cooperation among biology and health scientists, ethicists, human scientists, policymakers, journalists, and civil society is essential for an in-depth understanding of the social action of vaccine refusal and planning effective education measures to increase the vaccine coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Sousa de Oliveira
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Isabela Gobbo Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Beatriz de Cássia da Silva Jacob
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Felipe Augusto Cerni
- Universidade Federal de Roraima, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Boa Vista, RR, Brasil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Medicina e Enfermagem, Manaus, AM, Brasil.,Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Departamento de Ensino e Pesquisa, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - Umberto Zottich
- Universidade Federal de Roraima, Faculdade de Medicina, Boa Vista, RR, Brasil
| | - Manuela Berto Pucca
- Universidade Federal de Roraima, Faculdade de Medicina, Boa Vista, RR, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Roraima, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Boa Vista, RR, Brasil
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9
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Zhu XM, Yan W, Sun J, Liu L, Zhao YM, Zheng YB, Que JY, Sun SW, Gong YM, Zeng N, Yuan K, Shi L, Sun YK, Guo SH, Lu Y, Ran MS, Wong SYS, Shi J, Jiang ZD, Bao YP, Lu L. Patterns and influencing factors of COVID-19 vaccination willingness among college students in China. Vaccine 2022; 40:3046-3054. [PMID: 35450782 PMCID: PMC8995203 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background Vaccination is an important preventive measure against the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to examine the willingness to vaccination and influencing factors among college students in China. Methods From March 18 to April 26, 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among college students from 30 universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The survey was composed of the sociodemographic information, psychological status, experience during pandemic, the willingness of vaccination and related information. Students’ attitudes towards vaccination were classified as ‘vaccine acceptance’, ‘vaccine hesitancy’, and ‘vaccine resistance’. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and resistance. Results Among 23,143 students who completed the survey, a total of 22,660 participants were included in the final analysis with an effective rate of 97.9% after excluding invalid questionnaires. A total of 60.6% of participants would be willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine, 33.4% were hesitant to vaccination, and 6.0% were resistant to vaccination. Social media platforms and government agencies were the main sources of information vaccination. Worry about the efficacy and adverse effects of vaccine were the top two common reason of vaccine hesitancy and resistance. Multiple multinomial logistic regression analysis identified that participants who worried about the adverse effects of vaccination were more likely to be vaccine hesitancy (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 2.30, 2.58) and resistance (aOR = 2.71, 95% CI = 2.40, 3.05). Conclusion More than half of college students are willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas nearly one-third college students are still hesitant or resistant. It is crucial to provide sufficient and scientific information on the efficacy and safety of vaccine through social media and government agencies platforms to promote vaccine progress against COVID-19 and control the pandemic in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Mei Zhu
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Center for Pain Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lin Liu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi-Miao Zhao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yong-Bo Zheng
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jian-Yu Que
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Si-Wei Sun
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi-Miao Gong
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Na Zeng
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Le Shi
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan-Kun Sun
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Sui-Huai Guo
- Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mao-Sheng Ran
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Samuel Yeung Shan Wong
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zheng-Dong Jiang
- Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan-Ping Bao
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lin Lu
- Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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10
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Wei J, Qin C, Ji H, Guo L, Chen J, Xu Y. A Noise Based Medical Elites Silence Model and Public Health Opinion Distortion in Social Networks. Front Public Health 2022; 9:791893. [PMID: 35096745 PMCID: PMC8795678 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.791893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Under the impact of internet populism, internet violence, and other noises on the internet, medical elites, who have a professional background, did not intend to share their opinions on the internet. Thus, misinformation about health is increasingly prevalent. We roughly divided the users in social networks into ordinary users, medical elites, and super-influencers. In this paper, we propose a communication model of health information based on the improved Hegselmann-Krause (H-K) model. By conducting MATLAB-based simulation, the experimental results showed that network noise was an important factor that interfered with opinion propagation regarding health. The louder the noise is, the harder it is for health opinions within a group to reach a consensus. But even in a noisy environment, super-influencers could influence the overall cognition on public health in the social network fundamentally. When the super-influencers held positive opinions in public health, the medical elite keeping silent had a noise-tolerant effect on opinion communication in public health, and vice versa. Thus, three factors concerning noise control, the free information release of medical elites, and the positive position of super-influence are very important to form a virtuous information environment for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianliang Wei
- School of Management Engineering and E-Commerce, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chi Qin
- School of Management Engineering and E-Commerce, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Ji
- School of Environment and Resource, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Guo
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Zhijiang College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jingjing Chen
| | - Yingying Xu
- School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
- Yingying Xu
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11
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Du J, Preston S, Sun H, Shegog R, Cunningham R, Boom J, Savas L, Amith M, Tao C. Using Machine Learning-Based Approaches for the Detection and Classification of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Misinformation: Infodemiology Study of Reddit Discussions. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e26478. [PMID: 34383667 PMCID: PMC8380585 DOI: 10.2196/26478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid growth of social media as an information channel has made it possible to quickly spread inaccurate or false vaccine information, thus creating obstacles for vaccine promotion. Objective The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an intelligent automated protocol for identifying and classifying human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine misinformation on social media using machine learning (ML)–based methods. Methods Reddit posts (from 2007 to 2017, N=28,121) that contained keywords related to HPV vaccination were compiled. A random subset (2200/28,121, 7.82%) was manually labeled for misinformation and served as the gold standard corpus for evaluation. A total of 5 ML-based algorithms, including a support vector machine, logistic regression, extremely randomized trees, a convolutional neural network, and a recurrent neural network designed to identify vaccine misinformation, were evaluated for identification performance. Topic modeling was applied to identify the major categories associated with HPV vaccine misinformation. Results A convolutional neural network model achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.7943. Of the 28,121 Reddit posts, 7207 (25.63%) were classified as vaccine misinformation, with discussions about general safety issues identified as the leading type of misinformed posts (2666/7207, 36.99%). Conclusions ML-based approaches are effective in the identification and classification of HPV vaccine misinformation on Reddit and may be generalizable to other social media platforms. ML-based methods may provide the capacity and utility to meet the challenge involved in intelligent automated monitoring and classification of public health misinformation on social media platforms. The timely identification of vaccine misinformation on the internet is the first step in misinformation correction and vaccine promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingcheng Du
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sharice Preston
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hanxiao Sun
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ross Shegog
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Julie Boom
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lara Savas
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Muhammad Amith
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Cui Tao
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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12
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Alabdulla M, Reagu SM, Al-Khal A, Elzain M, Jones RM. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and attitudes in Qatar: A national cross-sectional survey of a migrant-majority population. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2021; 15:361-370. [PMID: 33605010 PMCID: PMC8014858 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat undermining control of preventable infections. Emerging evidence suggests that hesitancy to COVID‐19 vaccination varies globally. Qatar has a unique population with around 90% of the population being economic migrants, and the degree and determinants of hesitancy are not known. Methods This study was carried out to evaluate the degree of vaccine hesitancy and its socio‐demographic and attitudinal determinants across a representative sample. A national cross‐sectional study using validated hesitancy measurement tool was carried out from October 15, 2020, to November 15, 2020. A total of 7821 adults completed the survey. Relevant socio‐demographic data along with attitudes and beliefs around COVID‐19 vaccination were collected from the respondents. Results 20.2% of the respondents stated they would not take the vaccine and 19.8% reported being unsure about taking the prospective COVID‐19 vaccine. Citizens and females were more likely to be vaccine hesitators than immigrants and males, respectively. Concerns around the safety of COVID‐19 vaccine and its longer‐term side effects were the main concerns cited. Personal research around COVID‐19 and vaccine were by far the most preferred methods that would increase confidence in accepting the vaccine across all demographic groups. Conclusions This study reports an overall vaccine hesitancy of 20% toward the COVID‐19 vaccine and the influence of social media on attitudes toward vaccination which is in keeping with emerging evidence. This finding comes at a time that is close to the start of mass immunization and reports from a migrant‐majority population highlighting important socio‐demographic determinants around vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Alabdulla
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.,College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Roland M Jones
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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13
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Karafillakis E, Martin S, Simas C, Olsson K, Takacs J, Dada S, Larson HJ. Methods for Social Media Monitoring Related to Vaccination: Systematic Scoping Review. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2021; 7:e17149. [PMID: 33555267 PMCID: PMC7899807 DOI: 10.2196/17149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social media has changed the communication landscape, exposing individuals to an ever-growing amount of information while also allowing them to create and share content. Although vaccine skepticism is not new, social media has amplified public concerns and facilitated their spread globally. Multiple studies have been conducted to monitor vaccination discussions on social media. However, there is currently insufficient evidence on the best methods to perform social media monitoring. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the methods most commonly used for monitoring vaccination-related topics on different social media platforms, along with their effectiveness and limitations. Methods A systematic scoping review was conducted by applying a comprehensive search strategy to multiple databases in December 2018. The articles’ titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two reviewers using inclusion and exclusion criteria. After data extraction, a descriptive analysis was performed to summarize the methods used to monitor and analyze social media, including data extraction tools; ethical considerations; search strategies; periods monitored; geolocalization of content; and sentiments, content, and reach analyses. Results This review identified 86 articles on social media monitoring of vaccination, most of which were published after 2015. Although 35 out of the 86 studies used manual browser search tools to collect data from social media, this was time-consuming and only allowed for the analysis of small samples compared to social media application program interfaces or automated monitoring tools. Although simple search strategies were considered less precise, only 10 out of the 86 studies used comprehensive lists of keywords (eg, with hashtags or words related to specific events or concerns). Partly due to privacy settings, geolocalization of data was extremely difficult to obtain, limiting the possibility of performing country-specific analyses. Finally, 20 out of the 86 studies performed trend or content analyses, whereas most of the studies (70%, 60/86) analyzed sentiments toward vaccination. Automated sentiment analyses, performed using leverage, supervised machine learning, or automated software, were fast and provided strong and accurate results. Most studies focused on negative (n=33) and positive (n=31) sentiments toward vaccination, and may have failed to capture the nuances and complexity of emotions around vaccination. Finally, 49 out of the 86 studies determined the reach of social media posts by looking at numbers of followers and engagement (eg, retweets, shares, likes). Conclusions Social media monitoring still constitutes a new means to research and understand public sentiments around vaccination. A wide range of methods are currently used by researchers. Future research should focus on evaluating these methods to offer more evidence and support the development of social media monitoring as a valuable research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Karafillakis
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Vaccine Confidence Project, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Martin
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Vaccine Confidence Project, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clarissa Simas
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Vaccine Confidence Project, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Olsson
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockhom, Sweden
| | - Judit Takacs
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockhom, Sweden.,Centre for Social Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sara Dada
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Vaccine Confidence Project, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi Jane Larson
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Vaccine Confidence Project, London, United Kingdom.,Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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14
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Yin F, Wu Z, Xia X, Ji M, Wang Y, Hu Z. Unfolding the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in China. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e26089. [PMID: 33400682 PMCID: PMC7813210 DOI: 10.2196/26089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background China is at the forefront of global efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines and has five fast-tracked candidates at the final-stage, large-scale human clinical trials testing phase. Vaccine-promoting policymaking for public engagement is a prerequisite for social mobilization. However, making an informed and judicious choice is a dilemma for the Chinese government in the vaccine promotion context. Objective In this study, public opinions in China were analyzed via dialogues on Chinese social media, based on which Chinese netizens’ views on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination were investigated. We also aimed to develop strategies for promoting vaccination programs in China based on an in-depth understanding of the challenges in risk communication and social mobilization. Methods We proposed a novel behavioral dynamics model, SRS/I (susceptible-reading-susceptible/immune), to analyze opinion transmission paradigms on Chinese social media. Coupled with a meta-analysis and natural language processing techniques, the emotion polarity of individual opinions was examined in their given context. Results We collected more than 1.75 million Weibo messages about COVID-19 vaccines from January to October 2020. According to the public opinion reproduction ratio (R0), the dynamic propagation of those messages can be classified into three periods: the ferment period (R01=1.1360), the revolution period (R02=2.8278), and the transmission period (R03=3.0729). Topics on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in China include price and side effects. From September to October, Weibo users claimed that the vaccine was overpriced, making up 18.3% (n=899) of messages; 38.1% (n=81,909) of relevant topics on Weibo received likes. On the contrary, the number of messages that considered the vaccine to be reasonably priced was twice as high but received fewer likes, accounting for 25.0% (n=53,693). In addition, we obtained 441 (47.7%) positive and 295 (31.9%) negative Weibo messages about side effects. Interestingly, inactivated vaccines instigated more heated discussions than any other vaccine type. The discussions, forwards, comments, and likes associated with topics related to inactivated vaccines accounted for 53% (n=588), 42% (n=3072), 56% (n=3671), and 49% (n=17,940), respectively, of the total activity associated with the five types of vaccines in China. Conclusions Most Chinese netizens believe that the vaccine is less expensive than previously thought, while some claim they cannot afford it for their entire family. The findings demonstrate that Chinese individuals are inclined to be positive about side effects over time and are proud of China’s involvement with vaccine development. Nevertheless, they have a collective misunderstanding about inactivated vaccines, insisting that inactivated vaccines are safer than other vaccines. Reflecting on netizens’ collective responses, the unfolding determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance provide illuminating benchmarks for vaccine-promoting policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulian Yin
- Communication University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoliang Wu
- Communication University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Xia
- Communication University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Meiqi Ji
- Communication University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Communication University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Gallagher J, Lawrence HY. Rhetorical Appeals and Tactics in New York Times Comments About Vaccines: Qualitative Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e19504. [PMID: 33275110 PMCID: PMC7748960 DOI: 10.2196/19504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Improving persuasion in response to vaccine skepticism is a long-standing problem. Elective nonvaccination emerging from skepticism about vaccine safety and efficacy jeopardizes herd immunity, exposing those who are most vulnerable to the risk of serious diseases. Objective This article analyzes vaccine sentiments in the New York Times as a way of improving understanding of why existing persuasive approaches may be ineffective and offers insight into how existing methods might be improved. We categorize pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine arguments, offering an in-depth analysis of pro-vaccine appeals and tactics in particular to enhance current understanding of arguments that support vaccines. Methods Qualitative thematic analyses were used to analyze themes in rhetorical appeals across 808 vaccine-specific comments. Pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine comments were categorized to provide a broad analysis of the overall context of vaccine comments across viewpoints, with in-depth rhetorical analysis of pro-vaccine comments to address current gaps in understanding of pro-vaccine arguments in particular. Results Appeals across 808 anti-vaccine and pro-vaccine comments were similar, though these appeals diverged in tactics and conclusions. Anti-vaccine arguments were more heterogeneous, deploying a wide range of arguments against vaccines. Additional analysis of pro-vaccine comments reveals that these comments use rhetorical strategies that could be counterproductive to producing persuasion. Pro-vaccine comments more frequently used tactics such as ad hominem arguments levied at those who refuse vaccines or used appeals to science to correct beliefs in vaccine skepticism, both of which can be ineffective when attempting to persuade a skeptical audience. Conclusions Further study of pro-vaccine argumentation appeals and tactics could illuminate how persuasiveness could be improved in online forums.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Gallagher
- Department of English, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Heidi Y Lawrence
- Department of English, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
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16
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Ahmed N, Shahbaz T, Shamim A, Shafiq Khan K, Hussain SM, Usman A. The COVID-19 Infodemic: A Quantitative Analysis Through Facebook. Cureus 2020; 12:e11346. [PMID: 33304681 PMCID: PMC7719473 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.11346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social media is a crucial part of our daily life. Facebook, being the biggest social media platform, plays a significant role in the spread of information influencing the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) use social media as a platform to impart information regarding COVID-19; simultaneously, there is a spread of misinformation on social media, masking the credible sources of information. Our research aims to assess the utility of Facebook in providing misinformation and testing its "fact-check policy." Methods An online search was conducted on Facebook by a newly created account to eliminate bias. The Facebook search bar was used to investigate multiple keywords. Data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA). Descriptive statistical analysis of Facebook accounts and posts was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) while statistical importance was set a priority at a p-value of 0.05. Results Our study consisted of 454 Facebook posts. Most (22.5%) were posted by verified accounts and 23.9% by informal individual/group accounts. The tone for most (40.4%) COVID-19 information was serious while the most common (43.9%) topic was medical/public health. In total, 22.3% included misinformation, 19.6% were unverifiable, and 27.5% included correct information verifiable by the WHO or CDC. Conclusions Misinformation/unverifiable information related to the COVID-19 crisis is spreading at a distressing rate on social media. We quantified the misinformation and tested Facebook's "fact-check policy." We advise strict initiatives to control this infodemic and advise future researches to evaluate the accuracy of content being circulated on other social media platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naseem Ahmed
- Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
| | - Tooba Shahbaz
- Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
| | - Asma Shamim
- Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
| | - Kiran Shafiq Khan
- Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
| | - S M Hussain
- Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
| | - Asad Usman
- Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, PAK
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17
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Puri N, Coomes EA, Haghbayan H, Gunaratne K. Social media and vaccine hesitancy: new updates for the era of COVID-19 and globalized infectious diseases. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:2586-2593. [PMID: 32693678 PMCID: PMC7733887 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1780846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 524] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances in vaccination over the past century, resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses has led the World Health Organization to identify vaccine hesitancy as a major threat to global health. Vaccine hesitancy may be fueled by health information obtained from a variety of sources, including new media such as the Internet and social media platforms. As access to technology has improved, social media has attained global penetrance. In contrast to traditional media, social media allow individuals to rapidly create and share content globally without editorial oversight. Users may self-select content streams, contributing to ideological isolation. As such, there are considerable public health concerns raised by anti-vaccination messaging on such platforms and the consequent potential for downstream vaccine hesitancy, including the compromise of public confidence in future vaccine development for novel pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 for the prevention of COVID-19. In this review, we discuss the current position of social media platforms in propagating vaccine hesitancy and explore next steps in how social media may be used to improve health literacy and foster public trust in vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Puri
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric A. Coomes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hourmazd Haghbayan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Keith Gunaratne
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Ashfield S, Donelle L. Parental Online Information Access and Childhood Vaccination Decisions in North America: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e20002. [PMID: 33048055 PMCID: PMC7592069 DOI: 10.2196/20002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Immunizing children throughout their early years prevents the spread of communicable disease and decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with many vaccine-preventable diseases. Searching online allows individuals rapid access to health information. Objective The purpose of this review was to develop an understanding of the existing literature of parents’ online health information-seeking behaviors to inform their vaccination choices for their children and to identify gaps in the literature around parents’ use of online health information and their vaccination choices. Methods A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Canada and the United States was performed. The following databases were utilized to perform the search: PubMed, CINAHL, Nursing & Allied Health Database, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The purpose of this review was to examine parents’ use of online information seeking related to vaccine information and to understand how parents utilize this information to inform decisions about vaccinating their children. Of the 34 papers included in the review, 4 relevant themes and subthemes were identified: information seeking, online information resources, online vaccine content, and trust in health care providers. Results Examination of the literature revealed conflicting information regarding parents’ use of social media and online resources to inform decisions around vaccinating their children. There is evidence of significant misinformation regarding vaccine risks online. Parents’ digital health literacy levels are unknown and may affect their ability to appraise online vaccination information. Conclusions Parents are seeking vaccine information from online sources. However, the influence of online vaccine information on parental vaccine practices remains uncertain.
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Analysis of the Anti-Vaccine Movement in Social Networks: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17155394. [PMID: 32727024 PMCID: PMC7432886 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17155394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze social networks’ information about the anti-vaccine movement. A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and CUIDEN databases. The search equations were: “vaccine AND social network” and “vaccine AND (Facebook[title] OR Twitter[title] OR Instagram[title] OR YouTube[title])”. The final sample was n = 12, including only articles published in the last 10 years, in English or Spanish. Social networks are used by the anti-vaccine groups to disseminate their information. To do this, these groups use different methods, including bots and trolls that generate anti-vaccination messages and spread quickly. In addition, the arguments that they use focus on possible harmful effects and the distrust of pharmaceuticals, promoting the use of social networks as a resource for finding health-related information. The anti-vaccine groups are able to use social networks and their resources to increase their number and do so through controversial arguments, such as the economic benefit of pharmaceuticals or personal stories of children to move the population without using reliable or evidence-based content.
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Starr TS, Oxlad M. News media stories about cancer on Facebook: How does story framing influence response framing, tone and attributions of responsibility? Health (London) 2020; 25:688-706. [PMID: 32186197 DOI: 10.1177/1363459320912817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This content analysis explored associations between the framing of cancer-related health news stories on Facebook and their corresponding comments. It was found that regardless of story framing the majority of responses involved users engaging in debate and discussion rather than sharing personal experiences. Furthermore, stories framed episodically had a greater proportion of both supportive and unsupportive comments than stories framed thematically. As predicted, episodic stories were associated with more attributions of responsibility directed towards the individual whereas thematic stories lead to more societal-level attributions of blame. Contrary to predictions, responses did not contribute towards the stigmatisation of lung cancer, instead more responses were aimed at reducing stigma for this illness. Within the findings strong beliefs about cancer treatment and management were also identified, which raises concern over the spread of misinformation. Overall, this research provided insight into the framing of cancer news and highlighted potential implications of Facebook comments.
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Salvador PTCDO, Alves KYA, Rodrigues CCFM, Oliveira LVE. Online data collection strategies used in qualitative research of the health field: a scoping review. Rev Gaucha Enferm 2020; 41:e20190297. [DOI: 10.1590/1983-1447.2020.20190297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: To identify and map the online data collection strategies used in qualitative researches in the health field. Methods: This is a scoping review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) from the Joanna Briggs Institute. We analyzed scientific articles, theses and dissertations from 12 databases. The analysis was made by descriptive statistics. Results: The final sample consisted of 121 researches. It was found that the number of publications increased sharply in the last five years, with predominance of studies from the United Kingdom. The highlight fields were psychology (28.1%), medicine (25.6%) and nursing (12.4%). The publications used 10 online data collection strategies: Online questionnaires, online forums, Facebook, websites, blogs, e-mail, online focus group, Twitter, chats, and YouTube. Conclusions: Online data collection strategies are constantly expanding and increasingly used in the health area.
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Wang Y, McKee M, Torbica A, Stuckler D. Systematic Literature Review on the Spread of Health-related Misinformation on Social Media. Soc Sci Med 2019; 240:112552. [PMID: 31561111 PMCID: PMC7117034 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 560] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Contemporary commentators describe the current period as “an era of fake news” in which misinformation, generated intentionally or unintentionally, spreads rapidly. Although affecting all areas of life, it poses particular problems in the health arena, where it can delay or prevent effective care, in some cases threatening the lives of individuals. While examples of the rapid spread of misinformation date back to the earliest days of scientific medicine, the internet, by allowing instantaneous communication and powerful amplification has brought about a quantum change. In democracies where ideas compete in the marketplace for attention, accurate scientific information, which may be difficult to comprehend and even dull, is easily crowded out by sensationalized news. In order to uncover the current evidence and better understand the mechanism of misinformation spread, we report a systematic review of the nature and potential drivers of health-related misinformation. We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus and Google databases to identify relevant methodological and empirical articles published between 2012 and 2018. A total of 57 articles were included for full-text analysis. Overall, we observe an increasing trend in published articles on health-related misinformation and the role of social media in its propagation. The most extensively studied topics involving misinformation relate to vaccination, Ebola and Zika Virus, although others, such as nutrition, cancer, fluoridation of water and smoking also featured. Studies adopted theoretical frameworks from psychology and network science, while co-citation analysis revealed potential for greater collaboration across fields. Most studies employed content analysis, social network analysis or experiments, drawing on disparate disciplinary paradigms. Future research should examine susceptibility of different sociodemographic groups to misinformation and understand the role of belief systems on the intention to spread misinformation. Further interdisciplinary research is also warranted to identify effective and tailored interventions to counter the spread of health-related misinformation online. Studies on health misinformation mainly relate to vaccine and infectious disease. Findings show high prevalence and popularity of misinformation on social media. Theoretical frameworks are drawn on disparate disciplinary paradigms. Studies employed content analysis, social network analysis or experiments. More interdisciplinary research needed to understand the susceptibility of users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Wang
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care, Department of Social and Political Science, Bocconi University, Italy.
| | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandra Torbica
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care, Department of Social and Political Science, Bocconi University, Italy
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Social and Political Science, Bocconi University, Italy
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