Difficulties in Obtaining Consistent HPV Information

from the Internet: Preliminary Findings

Marsha S. Stevens, BHSEllen M. Daley, PhD

Karen M. Perrin , PhDRobert J. McDermott , PhD

University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL

Background

This research is being conducted as a

“Special Project” for completion of a

Masters in Public Health – the analysis is

prompted from qualitative findings from

an ongoing study assessing the impact of

an HPV diagnosis.

Prevalence of HPV

“…(HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States and is of increasing public health concern…”

American Social Health Association (ASHA) http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/background.html-2003

Prevalence and Incidence of HPV

• Prevalence of HPV is 30%-50% in sexually active young women

• Incidence approximately 5.5 million a year

National Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training CentersCurriculum CommitteeGenital Human Papillomavirus Infection -- January 2003

HPV and Cervical Cancer

• Worldwide: HPV cervical cancer—approximately 475,000 cases and 200,000 deaths

• US: HPV cervical cancer—approximately 14,000 cases and 5,000 deaths

• 3rd leading cause of cancer in women worldwide

• 9th leading cause of cancer deaths in the USNational Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers- Curriculum CommitteeGenital Human Papillomavirus Infection June 2002

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the content of internet websites pertinent to HPV.

We determined that the majority of women found obtaining accurate, clear and reliable

information on HPV via the Internet was difficult

Methods

Eleven graduate students conducted pilot study searches on the Internet

Graduate students used the search engine of their choice.

Seven search engines were used: Google, Yahoo, AskJeeves, Alta Vista, MSN, Dogpile, Blazefind.

Methods• A list of specific search terms was given

to each participant: HPV HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS DYSPLASIA PAP SMEAR ABNORMAL CELLS STD SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE CERVICAL CANCER COLPOSCOPY GENITAL WARTS

Methods• Most students

chose to do the pilot study in the late afternoon or early evening.

• Six out of the eleven graduate students conducted search at home versus the university.

Results

• Assessed each graduate students findings

– Out of the top ten websites generated, which sites were relevant

– How many were non- commercial sites

– What number in the sequence were the relevant websites

Health On the Net Standards(HON Code)

• These standards are proposed for presenting health information on the Internet but compliance to the principles is voluntary.

Health On the Net Standards(Hon Code) cont’d

There are eight principles in the HON Code:• Authority • Complementarity• Confidentiality• Attribution• Justifiability• Transparency of authorship • Transparency of sponsorship• Honesty in advertising & editorial policy

Results

• Google was the most frequently used search engine by the graduate students.

• The search engine with the most relevant sites was AskJeeves.

• The search engine with the least relevant sites was Blazefind.

Discussion• Health Information on the Internet is

inconsistent. • Health Information retrieved on

Internet may be viewed as correct by Internet user’s despite misleading and incorrect information.

• Establishing standards such as HON Code are important.

Conclusions• An array of health

information is available on the Internet for anyone to retrieve. Consumers often do not question the information they find on the Internet.

Conclusions

• The health messages are non-standard or geared to an audience with computer-literate skills.

• Health professionals have a role in teaching consumers how to locate and evaluate quality information.

Acknowledgements

The HPV Research Unit• Amy Gray • Holly Rayko• Maribeth Buie• Alice Richman• Karen Monzer• Angela Diggs• Trish Mueller• Teri Malo

• Keisha Cutler• Emily Jolles