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Actual vs Preferred Sources of Human Papillomavirus Information Among Black, White, and Hispanic Parents

Actual vs Preferred Sources of Human Papillomavirus Information Among Black, White, and Hispanic... Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widely recognized as the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.1,2 In June 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an HPV vaccine for use among 9- to 26-year-old females.3 In recent years, there has been a surge in direct advertising about HPV and the HPV vaccine. In response, parents (who hold the primary responsibility of decision making for their children's health) have expressed the need for reliable HPV information.4 The purpose of this investigation was to examine the most common sources of HPV information among parents and to compare preferred with actual HPV information sources. Methods Participants were drawn from an online research panel through Knowledge Networks, an Internet-based survey company. Knowledge Networks facilitates access to online panels based on a random-digit dialing sample of nationally representative US households.5 It also provides free Internet access via WebTV (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) for those who do not have the Internet, enabling sampling from diverse segments of the US population. Eligible participants included those who identified as black, white, or Hispanic and had at least one 9- to 17-year-old daughter for whom they were the primary caregiver. Among those assigned the survey (N = 836), 563 panelists agreed to participate. Among these, 173 white, 137 Hispanic, and 166 black respondents were still eligible after completing the screening questions (n = 476). Data collection occurred from September 2007 to January 2008. The protocol was approved by the Harvard School of Public Health Institutional Review Board. Participants were asked from which sources they would prefer to receive HPV information and where they first heard of it. Responses included a health care provider, friend, family member, television/radio, Internet, newspaper/magazine, daughter's school, and other (with a request to specify). Descriptive statistics were calculated using SAS, version 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina). Results Slightly more than half of the respondents (53%) self-identified as black or Hispanic and had an income level of $50 000 or less. Less than half (38%) had some college education and 28% had a high school education or less. The mean age was 41 years. Most respondents were female (92.4%), and a sensitivity analysis removing male caregivers did not change results, so they were retained. Most had heard of HPV before taking the survey (90%). There was a large discrepancy between actual and preferred HPV information sources (Figure). Most parents (84.8%) preferred to receive HPV information from a health care provider, yet only 5.3% actually did. Half (49.8%) reported that most of their HPV information came from the television or radio, though only 4% preferred to get it from these sources. Figure. View LargeDownload Actual vs preferred source of human papilloma virus information for parents who had heard of it. Comment The results of this study highlight the discrepancy between preferred and actual sources of HPV information for parents. Most parents' first exposure to HPV information was from media sources, particularly television or radio, suggesting that education of the public about HPV has primarily been driven by industry marketing.6 This study is among the first to compare parents' actual vs preferred HPV information sources. A limitation of the study is its English-only surveys, which eliminates the possibility of surveying caregivers who speak other languages. Nevertheless, this study has important implications for future efforts to educate parents about HPV. Specifically, health care providers (who are trusted and credible sources of information) are being called on to provide parents with complete information about HPV to help enable them to distinguish factual information from the misinformation that may inadvertently be conveyed to them through advertising media. Thus, strengthening providers' communication skills and HPV knowledge and offering strategies on how to best address parental concerns about HPV and the vaccine are needed. Correspondence: Dr De Jesus, Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St, LW 703, Boston, MA 02115 (maria_dejesus@dfci.harvard.edu). Author Contributions:Study concept and design: De Jesus and Allen. Acquisition of data: De Jesus. Analysis and interpretation of data: Parast, Shelton, Kokkinogenis, Othus, and Li. Drafting of the manuscript: De Jesus, Parast, Kokkinogenis, and Othus. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: De Jesus, Parast, Shelton, Othus, Li, and Allen. Statistical analysis: De Jesus, Parast, Othus, and Li. Obtained funding: Allen. Administrative, technical, and material support: Shelton. Study supervision: Othus and Allen. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Funding/Support: This research was supported by the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center Nodal Point Award P30CA006516. References 1. Weinstock HBerman SCates W Jr Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2004;36 (1) 6- 10PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital HPV Infection: CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#cause. Accessed June 10, 2009 3. US Food and Drug Administration, FDA licenses new vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by human papillomavirus [news release]. June8 2006;http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm108666.htm. Accessed September 10, 2008 4. Goldsmith MRBankhead CRKehoe STMarsh GAustoker J Information and cervical screening: a qualitative study of women's awareness, understanding and information needs about HPV. J Med Screen 2007;14 (1) 29- 33PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Couper M Web surveys: a review of issues and approaches. Public Opin Q 2000;64 (4) 464- 494PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Hughes JCates JRLiddon NSmith JSGottlieb SLBrewer NT Disparities in how parents are learning about the human papillomavirus vaccine. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18 (2) 363- 372PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine American Medical Association

Actual vs Preferred Sources of Human Papillomavirus Information Among Black, White, and Hispanic Parents

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American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
1072-4710
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1538-3628
DOI
10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.211
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Abstract

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widely recognized as the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.1,2 In June 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an HPV vaccine for use among 9- to 26-year-old females.3 In recent years, there has been a surge in direct advertising about HPV and the HPV vaccine. In response, parents (who hold the primary responsibility of decision making for their children's health) have expressed the need for reliable HPV information.4 The purpose of this investigation was to examine the most common sources of HPV information among parents and to compare preferred with actual HPV information sources. Methods Participants were drawn from an online research panel through Knowledge Networks, an Internet-based survey company. Knowledge Networks facilitates access to online panels based on a random-digit dialing sample of nationally representative US households.5 It also provides free Internet access via WebTV (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) for those who do not have the Internet, enabling sampling from diverse segments of the US population. Eligible participants included those who identified as black, white, or Hispanic and had at least one 9- to 17-year-old daughter for whom they were the primary caregiver. Among those assigned the survey (N = 836), 563 panelists agreed to participate. Among these, 173 white, 137 Hispanic, and 166 black respondents were still eligible after completing the screening questions (n = 476). Data collection occurred from September 2007 to January 2008. The protocol was approved by the Harvard School of Public Health Institutional Review Board. Participants were asked from which sources they would prefer to receive HPV information and where they first heard of it. Responses included a health care provider, friend, family member, television/radio, Internet, newspaper/magazine, daughter's school, and other (with a request to specify). Descriptive statistics were calculated using SAS, version 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina). Results Slightly more than half of the respondents (53%) self-identified as black or Hispanic and had an income level of $50 000 or less. Less than half (38%) had some college education and 28% had a high school education or less. The mean age was 41 years. Most respondents were female (92.4%), and a sensitivity analysis removing male caregivers did not change results, so they were retained. Most had heard of HPV before taking the survey (90%). There was a large discrepancy between actual and preferred HPV information sources (Figure). Most parents (84.8%) preferred to receive HPV information from a health care provider, yet only 5.3% actually did. Half (49.8%) reported that most of their HPV information came from the television or radio, though only 4% preferred to get it from these sources. Figure. View LargeDownload Actual vs preferred source of human papilloma virus information for parents who had heard of it. Comment The results of this study highlight the discrepancy between preferred and actual sources of HPV information for parents. Most parents' first exposure to HPV information was from media sources, particularly television or radio, suggesting that education of the public about HPV has primarily been driven by industry marketing.6 This study is among the first to compare parents' actual vs preferred HPV information sources. A limitation of the study is its English-only surveys, which eliminates the possibility of surveying caregivers who speak other languages. Nevertheless, this study has important implications for future efforts to educate parents about HPV. Specifically, health care providers (who are trusted and credible sources of information) are being called on to provide parents with complete information about HPV to help enable them to distinguish factual information from the misinformation that may inadvertently be conveyed to them through advertising media. Thus, strengthening providers' communication skills and HPV knowledge and offering strategies on how to best address parental concerns about HPV and the vaccine are needed. Correspondence: Dr De Jesus, Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St, LW 703, Boston, MA 02115 (maria_dejesus@dfci.harvard.edu). Author Contributions:Study concept and design: De Jesus and Allen. Acquisition of data: De Jesus. Analysis and interpretation of data: Parast, Shelton, Kokkinogenis, Othus, and Li. Drafting of the manuscript: De Jesus, Parast, Kokkinogenis, and Othus. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: De Jesus, Parast, Shelton, Othus, Li, and Allen. Statistical analysis: De Jesus, Parast, Othus, and Li. Obtained funding: Allen. Administrative, technical, and material support: Shelton. Study supervision: Othus and Allen. Financial Disclosure: None reported. Funding/Support: This research was supported by the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center Nodal Point Award P30CA006516. References 1. Weinstock HBerman SCates W Jr Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2004;36 (1) 6- 10PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Genital HPV Infection: CDC Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#cause. Accessed June 10, 2009 3. US Food and Drug Administration, FDA licenses new vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by human papillomavirus [news release]. June8 2006;http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm108666.htm. Accessed September 10, 2008 4. Goldsmith MRBankhead CRKehoe STMarsh GAustoker J Information and cervical screening: a qualitative study of women's awareness, understanding and information needs about HPV. J Med Screen 2007;14 (1) 29- 33PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Couper M Web surveys: a review of issues and approaches. Public Opin Q 2000;64 (4) 464- 494PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 6. Hughes JCates JRLiddon NSmith JSGottlieb SLBrewer NT Disparities in how parents are learning about the human papillomavirus vaccine. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18 (2) 363- 372PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Nov 2, 2009

Keywords: human papillomavirus,hispanics or latinos,parent

References

  • Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000.
    Cates W; Perspect Sex Reprod Health
  • FDA licenses new vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by human papillomavirus [news release].
    US Food and Drug Administration
  • Information and cervical screening: a qualitative study of women's awareness, understanding and information needs about HPV.
    Austoker J; J Med Screen
  • Web surveys: a review of issues and approaches.
    Couper M; Public Opin Q
  • Disparities in how parents are learning about the human papillomavirus vaccine.
    Brewer NT; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev