Latifi Masoomeh, Alishan Karami Nader, Allahbakhshian Leili, Aghaesmaeili Narges, Ghasemi Tehrani Hatav
Vice Chancellor In Information Sciences and Knowledge Studies, Vice Chancellor for Research, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Para-Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences. Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Int J Prev Med. 2024 Aug 30;15:41. doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_337_23. eCollection 2024.
Health information-seeking behavior refers to individuals' targeted actions to satisfy their health information needs and search for relevant disease-related information. Nowadays, social media platforms provide a great opportunity for meeting health information needs and delivering preventive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this study is the information-seeking behavior of Iranian young adults (18-28 years old) regarding HPV on social media, a preventive approach to HPV.
The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 among Iranian boys and girls aged 18-28 years. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 3840 participants. The data collection tool was Longo's Health Information-Seeking Behavior Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software.
The results showed that Iranian youth aged 18-28 were more inclined to seek information on social media about the transmission routes and preventive measures for HPV. The primary informational need regarding transmission was "I want to know the main route of HPV transmission is through vaginal and anal intercourse?", and regarding prevention, it was "Can condoms prevent HPV infection?" Additionally, the findings indicated that young individuals sought information about HPV after their first sexual encounter. Most of the information needs of the youth were fulfilled through YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp, mainly in video format. Approximately 85.10% of the youth were satisfied with the information obtained from social media. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship between the health information needs of young adults (18-28 years old) in the area of HPV and personal factors. Gender, age, marital status, education level, history of HPV infection, and engaging is unprotected extramarital sex were identified as significant influential factors on the level of information needs of young individuals, especially regarding HPV preventive measures ( < 0.05).
Health authorities and disease control and prevention centers need to harness the potential of social media in meeting the informational needs of youth and providing education and awareness, especially concerning the transmission and prevention of HPV.
健康信息寻求行为是指个体为满足自身健康信息需求而采取的有针对性的行动，以及搜索相关疾病信息的行为。如今，社交媒体平台为满足健康信息需求和开展关于人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）的预防教育提供了绝佳机会。本研究的目的是了解伊朗18至28岁年轻人在社交媒体上关于HPV的信息寻求行为，这是一种HPV的预防方法。
本描述性分析研究于2023年在伊朗18至28岁的男孩和女孩中进行。采用多阶段整群抽样方法选取3840名参与者。数据收集工具是隆戈健康信息寻求行为问卷。使用SPSS软件对收集到的数据进行分析。
结果显示，18至28岁的伊朗年轻人更倾向于在社交媒体上寻求有关HPV传播途径和预防措施的信息。关于传播的主要信息需求是“我想知道HPV传播的主要途径是通过阴道和肛交吗？”，关于预防的主要信息需求是“安全套能预防HPV感染吗？”此外，研究结果表明，年轻人在首次性行为后会寻求有关HPV的信息。年轻人的大部分信息需求是通过YouTube、Instagram和WhatsApp满足的，主要是视频形式。大约85.10%的年轻人对从社交媒体获得的信息感到满意。结果显示，18至28岁年轻人在HPV领域的健康信息需求与个人因素之间存在显著的正相关关系。性别、年龄、婚姻状况、教育水平、HPV感染史以及参与无保护的婚外性行为被确定为对年轻人信息需求水平有显著影响的因素，尤其是在HPV预防措施方面（<0.05）。
卫生当局以及疾病控制与预防中心需要利用社交媒体的潜力，以满足年轻人的信息需求，并提供教育和提高认识，特别是关于HPV的传播和预防。
