MMR vaccination advice over the Internet

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Vaccine, Vol. 21 (11-12) (2003) pp. 1044-1047
© 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0264-410X(02)00628-X
 

MMR vaccination advice over the Internet

Katja Schmidt * katja.schmidt@pms.ac.uk and Edzard Ernst

Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT, UK

Received 24 June 2002; accepted 20 October 2002

Abstract

We wanted to investigate what advice UK homeopaths, chiropractors and general practitioners give on measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programme (MMR) vaccination via the Internet. Online referral directories listing e-mail addresses of UK homeopaths, chiropractors and general practitioners and private websites were visited. All addresses thus located received a letter of a (fictitious) patient asking for advice about the MMR vaccination. After sending a follow-up letter explaining the nature and aim of this project and offering the option of withdrawal, 26% of all respondents withdrew their answers. Homeopaths yielded a final response rate (53%, n=77) compared to chiropractors (32%, n=16). GPs unanimously refused to give advice over the Internet. No homeopath and only one chiropractor advised in favour of the MMR vaccination. Two homeopaths and three chiropractors indirectly advised in favour of MMR. More chiropractors than homeopaths displayed a positive attitude towards the MMR vaccination. Some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers have a negative attitude towards immunisation and means of changing this should be considered.

Keywords: MMR; Vaccination; Internet advice; Complementary practitioner

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44-1392-424-839; fax: +44-1392-424-989.

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