Contents of Japanese pro- and anti-HPV vaccination websites: A text mining analysis

Kato

et al. 2018

Heliyon

Self Cite

BackgroundInfluenza vaccine coverage among the Japanese population is less than optimal. Anti-vaccination sentiment exists worldwide, and Japan is no exception. Anti-influenza vaccination activists argue on the internet that influenza vaccine has little or no efficacy and a high risk of side effects, and they warn that people should forgo vaccination. We conducted a qualitative analysis to explore beliefs underlying the messages of anti-influenza vaccination websites, by focusing on the perceived value these beliefs provide to those who hold them.MethodsWe conducted online searches in January 2017 using two major Japanese search engines (Google Japan and Yahoo! Japan). Targeted websites were classified as “pro”, “anti”, or “neutral” depending on their claims. We applied a dual analytic approach—inductive thematic analysis and deductive interpretative analysis—to textual data of the anti websites.ResultsOf the 113 anti websites, we identified two themes that correspond to beliefs: it is necessary to 1) protect others against risks and exploitation related to influenza vaccination, and 2) educate others about hidden truths and self-determination. Authors of anti websites ascribed two values (people's “safety” and one's own “self-esteem”) to their beliefs.DiscussionWebsite authors may engage in anti-vaccination activities because they want to feel they are virtuous, saving people from harm caused by vaccination, and to boost their self-esteem, thinking “I am enlightening uninformed people.” The anti-vaccination beliefs of website authors were considered to be strong. In promoting vaccination, it would be better not to target outright vaccine refusers, such as the authors of anti-vaccination websites; it is preferable to target vaccine-hesitant people who are more amenable to changing their attitudes toward vaccination. We discuss possible means of promoting vaccination in that target population.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…As previous studies have showed, online anti-vaccination messages such as regarding toxicity and serious side effects of vaccines [ 9 , 11 , 15 , 18 , 29 ] were often sharp and intense. Therefore, the level of extremity in these beliefs can be considered high.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A qualitative analysis of the beliefs of Japanese anti-influenza vaccination website authors

Kato

et al. 2018

Heliyon

Self Cite

“…Several recent studies in the context of vaccine communication show that narrative messages about experiences of disease increase the audience’s risk perception of developing the disease, vaccination intention, and behaviors to prevent the disease to a greater degree than do didactic messages ( 18 – 21 ). Accordingly, use of narrative messages in addition to evidence-based statistical messages to counter the influence of anti-vaccination narratives of alleged victims of vaccine adverse reactions has been proposed ( 22 – 25 ). Thus, our first research question emerges herein: will a narrative message in addition to statistical messages result in higher intention to receive the HPV vaccine than statistical messages only?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persuasiveness of Statistics and Patients’ and Mothers’ Narratives in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Recommendation Messages: A Randomized Controlled Study in Japan

Okada

et al. 2018

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

BackgroundThe human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination percentage among age-eligible girls in Japan is only in the single digits. This signals the need for effective vaccine communication tactics. This study aimed to examine the influence of statistical data and narrative HPV vaccination recommendation massages on recipients’ vaccination intentions.MethodsThis randomized controlled study covered 1,432 mothers who had daughters aged 12–16 years. It compared message persuasiveness among four conditions: statistical messages only; narrative messages of a patient who experienced cervical cancer, in addition to statistical messages; narrative messages of a mother whose daughter experienced cervical cancer, in addition to statistical messages; and a control. Vaccination intentions to have one’s daughter(s) receive the HPV vaccine before and after reading intervention materials were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance with Tukey’s test or Games–Howell post hoc test, and analysis of covariance with Bonferroni correction.ResultsVaccination intentions after intervention in the three intervention conditions were higher than the control condition (p < 0.001). A mother’s narrative messages in addition to statistical messages increased HPV vaccination intention the most of all tested intervention conditions. A significant difference in the estimated means of intention with the covariate adjustment for baseline value (i.e., intention before intervention) was found between a mother’s narrative messages in addition to statistical messages and statistical messages only (p = 0.040).DiscussionMothers’ narrative messages may be persuasive when targeting mothers for promoting HPV vaccination. This may be because mothers can easily relate to and identify with communications from other mothers. However, for effective HPV vaccine communication, further studies are needed to understand more about persuasive differences in terms of statistics, narratives, and narrators. Directions for future research are also suggested.

“…In Japan, the second dose is given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose is given 6 months after the first dose. Studies indicate that there are a number of anti-HPV vaccination websites on the internet [12] and that seeing anti-vaccination messages online can negatively affect the audience's attitude toward vaccination, even 5 months after exposure to these messages [13]. Considering this, persistently increased vaccination intention after an intervention to promote HPV vaccines is important, to effectively conduct vaccination.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Long-Term Effects of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Recommendation Messages: A 4-months Follow-up Survey of a Randomized Controlled Study in Japan

Ueno

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

Background: We previously conducted a randomized controlled study to examine persuasive messages recommending HPV vaccination to mothers with daughters in September 2017 in Japan. Our previous study showed that the three types of intervention message used (statistical information only, a patient’s narrative in addition to statistical information, and a mother’s narrative in addition to statistical information) all significantly improved mothers’ intention to have their daughter(s) receive the HPV vaccine, in comparison with mothers who received no messaging. The present study is a follow-up survey to assess the long-term effect of the intervention in our previous study. Methods: Four months after the initial study, in January 2018, participants in the previous study were contacted and queried about their current intention to have their daughter(s) receive the HPV vaccine. Statistical analysis was conducted using the paired t -test and analysis of variance. Results: A total of 978 mothers participated in the current survey. Vaccination intention 4 months after intervention had decreased to a level that did not differ significantly from the level prior to intervention in all three intervention conditions. The amount of change in vaccination intention 4 months after intervention did not differ significantly among the three intervention groups ( p =0.871). Conclusions: A single exposure to messaging was insufficient to produce a persistent intervention effect; repeated exposure to messaging coupled with other interventions may be important.