Public perception of the resumption of HPV vaccine recommendation in Japan

Twitter content analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22943744
AutoresMarina Terada (0000-0002-6087-1807, The University of Tokyo), Tsuyoshi Okuhara (0000-0002-6251-3587, The University of Tokyo), Tomomi Nagasawa (0000-0002-7757-2985, The University of Tokyo), Hiroko Okada (0000-0001-7877-9753, The University of Tokyo), Eiko Goto (0000-0001-8288-7343, The University of Tokyo), Takahiro Kiuchi (0000-0001-5934-0681, The University of Tokyo)
Año2023
Volumen38
Número6
Fecha de publicación2023-12-01
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daad153
PMID37966160
OpenAlexW4388706802
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas43

On 12 November 2021, after a stagnation of 8.5 years, Japan decided to resume proactive recommendations for HPV vaccines. However, it is not known how the public reacted to the resumption of proactive recommendations for HPV vaccines, which are key elements in health communication that promote HPV vaccination. This study aimed to capture discussions on HPV vaccination on Twitter and to identify user characteristics, sentiments, discussed themes and their potential reach before and after 12 November 2021, when the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare’s decision to resume proactive recommendation for HPV vaccines was first reported by the media in Japan. This study conducted a content analysis of tweets related to HPV vaccines posted on 11 November and 12 November 2021. Tweets were coded in terms of user characteristics, sentiments (i.e. positive, negative and neutral) and themes. Reach was measured by the number of retweets, likes and followers. A total of 3623 tweets were identified. The results showed that approximately 50% of health professionals and researchers tweeted neutral content about HPV vaccines. The most frequently discussed theme was the safety and side effects of HPV vaccines, which was accompanied by mainly negative sentiments. Although health professionals and researchers are influential on Twitter, half of them tweeted neutrally about HPV vaccines. Influential professionals, such as health professionals and researchers, are expected to disseminate accurate information to correct misinformation and recommend HPV vaccination on Twitter to overcome the HPV vaccination crisis, which is characterized by the low vaccination rates.

Cancer · Cervical cancer · Christian ministry · Content analysis · Family medicine · Health care · Health professionals · HPV infection · HPV vaccines · Misinformation · Perception · Political science · Public relations · Social media · Sociology · Vaccination · Cervical Cancer and HPV Research · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Virology