Background: Misinformation on interactive Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can influence Internet users’ health behaviors, especially during an infectious disease outbreak. Objective:...Background: Misinformation on interactive Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can influence Internet users’ health behaviors, especially during an infectious disease outbreak. Objective: The present study seeks to examine the accuracy and characteristics of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). Methods: A sample of 204 answers to Ebola questions were extracted and rated for accuracy. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine whether answer characteristics (best answer, professional background, statistical information, source disclosed, link, and word count) predicted accuracy. Results: Overall, only 27.0% of the posted answers were rated as “accurate”. Accuracy varied across question topics with between 11.8% - 45.5% of answers being rated as accurate. When Yahoo Answers’ “best answers” were examined, the overall accuracy was substantially higher, with 80.0% of “best answers” being rated as accurate compared to 16.0% of all other answers. Conclusion: There is need for tools to help Internet users navigate health information posted on these dynamic user-generated knowledge exchange social websites.展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong> The potential for misinformation on usercontrolled Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can actively influence Internet users’ knowledge, attitude...<strong>Background:</strong> 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. <strong>Objective:</strong> The present study examines the accuracy and predictors of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). <strong>Methods:</strong> 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. <strong>Results:</strong> 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. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> 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.展开更多
文摘Background: Misinformation on interactive Knowledge Exchange Social Websites (KESWs) is concerning since it can influence Internet users’ health behaviors, especially during an infectious disease outbreak. Objective: The present study seeks to examine the accuracy and characteristics of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). Methods: A sample of 204 answers to Ebola questions were extracted and rated for accuracy. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine whether answer characteristics (best answer, professional background, statistical information, source disclosed, link, and word count) predicted accuracy. Results: Overall, only 27.0% of the posted answers were rated as “accurate”. Accuracy varied across question topics with between 11.8% - 45.5% of answers being rated as accurate. When Yahoo Answers’ “best answers” were examined, the overall accuracy was substantially higher, with 80.0% of “best answers” being rated as accurate compared to 16.0% of all other answers. Conclusion: There is need for tools to help Internet users navigate health information posted on these dynamic user-generated knowledge exchange social websites.
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> 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. <strong>Objective:</strong> The present study examines the accuracy and predictors of health information posted to a Knowledge Exchange Social Website (KESW). <strong>Methods:</strong> 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. <strong>Results:</strong> 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. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> 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.
