eprintid: 25748
rev_number: 13
userid: 4936
dir: disk0/00/02/57/48
datestamp: 2015-09-28 17:14:55
lastmod: 2016-11-15 14:29:36
status_changed: 2015-09-28 17:14:55
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: priamchak@gmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Chakraborty, Priam
creators_email: prc27@pitt.edu
creators_id: PRC27
title: An analysis of current topics related to HPV vaccination using twitter as a public health tool

ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_infectiousdiseasesmicrobiology
full_text_status: public
keywords: HPV, Gardasil, Twitter, Social Media, Vaccination
abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to many health complications including genital warts and certain types of cancer. Although HPV is a vaccine-preventable illness, many individuals continue to resist vaccination for both themselves and their children. The objective of this study was to use Twitter, a social media platform for microblogging, to assess views and attitudes towards HPV vaccination. Through a qualitative analysis of tweets posted by users, we hoped to gain a broad public opinion on the topic. Underlying objectives of this study included assessing the practicality of Twitter as a public health tool and determining the potential use of Twitter as a means to further the acceptance of the HPV vaccine. 
After analyzing a random subsample of 2,000 HPV related tweets collected over a one-week time span, we found certain topics to be the center of discussion. The four categories that accounted for the largest proportion of tweets included news and media coverage of current events related to the HPV vaccine, the impact of receiving the vaccine on sexual behavior, and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. The public health significance of this research was to be able to use Twitter as an adjunct tool for identifying current reasons behind not vaccinating for HPV, and potentially for overcoming such barriers. 

date: 2015-09-28
date_type: published
pages: 42
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Silvestre, Anthony J.
etdcommittee_name: Primack, Brian A
etdcommittee_name: Friedman, M. Revel
etdcommittee_email: tonys@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: bprimack@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: mrf9@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: TONYS
etdcommittee_id: BPRIMACK
etdcommittee_id: MRF9
etd_defense_date: 2015-07-09
etd_approval_date: 2015-09-28
etd_submission_date: 2015-07-22
etd_release_date: 2015-09-28
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
citation:   Chakraborty, Priam  (2015) An analysis of current topics related to HPV vaccination using twitter as a public health tool.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/25748/1/Thesis_Final_Chakraborty_P_8_2015.pdf