Abstract
Background: The potential for misinformation on usercontrolled Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can actively influence Internet users’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to childhood vaccinations. Objective: The present study examines the accuracy and predictors of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). Methods: A sample of 480 answers to childhood vaccination questions were retrieved and rated for accuracy. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine whether answer characteristics (best answer, professional background, statistical information, source disclosure, online link, word count, vaccine stance, and tone) predict accuracy. Results: Overall, only 56.2% of the posted answers were rated as “accurate.” Accuracy varied by topics with between 52.8% - 64.3% being rated as accurate. When Yahoo Answers’ “best answers” were examined, only 49.2% rated as accurate compared to 57.7% of all other answers, a finding attributed to widespread nominations of vaccine misinformation as “best answers” for questions addressing the side effects of vaccines. For all other types of questions, “best answers” were more likely to be accurate. Regression modeling revealed that discussions of personal choices regarding childhood vaccinations predicted the accuracy of posted answers, with those who mentioned vaccinating their own children proving more likely to communicate accurate vaccine information, and those expressing vaccine hesitancy proving more likely to share factually inaccurate statements about vaccines. Conclusion: The high prevalence of misinformation on KESWs suggests that these websites may serve as a vector for spreading vaccine misperceptions. Further research is needed to assess the impact of various KESWs and to develop effective, coordinated responses by public health agencies.
Highlights
The Internet is the public’s first destination when faced with health questions [1] [2], with over a third of adults in the United States reporting going online to self diagnose a medical condition and over two thirds seeking more general health information online [3]
The present study examines the accuracy and predictors of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW)
While the present study found a considerable amount of inaccurate information posted in response to questions about childhood vaccination, relatively little is known about how health information consumers utilize the information on KESWs
Summary
The Internet is the public’s first destination when faced with health questions [1] [2], with over a third of adults in the United States reporting going online to self diagnose a medical condition and over two thirds seeking more general health information online [3]. The impetuses driving online health information seeking are manifold and include benefits such as the availability of immediate answers [2] [4], social support [4] [5] [6], and opportunities to bypass traditional face-to-face meetings with health practitioners [4]. The potential for misinformation on user-controlled Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can actively influence Internet users’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to childhood vaccinations. Objective: The present study examines the accuracy and predictors of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). Regression modeling revealed that discussions of personal choices regarding childhood vaccinations predicted the accuracy of posted answers, with those who mentioned vaccinating their own children proving more likely to communicate accurate vaccine information, and those expressing vaccine hesitancy proving more likely to share factually inaccurate statements about vaccines. Further research is needed to assess the impact of various KESWs and to develop effective, coordinated responses by public health agencies
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