Educating healthcare providers to increase Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates: A Qualitative Systematic Review

A questionnaire survey for Japanese parents on intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and influenza

BACKGROUND

Since 2024, coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza vaccines for children have been voluntarily administered in Japan. Evaluating parental intentions to receive these vaccinations and the reasons for vaccine hesitancy may elucidate issues regarding vaccine confidence. This study aimed to evaluate the intention of parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and influenza.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted between July and October 2024. Eligible participants were parents or caregivers of at least one child aged 6 months to 17 years. The questionnaire asked the parents about their intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and influenza for the 2024-2025 season, before and after receiving information about the vaccines, as well as their reasons for not vaccinating.

RESULTS

Answers from 213 parents and caregivers of 286 children were included in the study. After reading the vaccine information, 90.1 % of parents intended to vaccinate their children against influenza, while and 9.4 % intended to vaccinate against COVID-19. Of the parents or caregivers, 69.0 % indicated that they would not vaccinate their children with the COVID-19 vaccine, even if it was free. Among those refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, 77.3 % cited safety concerns as the reason for their decision.

CONCLUSION

The intention of parents to vaccinate their children was very high for influenza vaccination. However, only few parents intended to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19 vaccine even after providing medical information. Many parents expressed concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in children as a reason for not intending to vaccinate.

HPV-Related Knowledge and Impact of Patient-Provider Communication on HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer Awareness and Pap Smear Completion in US Women Aged 21-65 Years

BACKGROUND

The United States (US) continues to face a substantial burden of cervical cancer, which has been the focus of many policies and public health prevention agendas. Of the numerous risk factors associated with cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains the leading and most preventable cause of this chronic disease. Therefore, one major public health prevention strategy to decrease cervical cancer cases is HPV vaccination. Another screening tool that enables cervical cancer prevention and early intervention is the Pap smear, the primary method of screening for abnormal cervical cells. However, barriers such as social determinants of health and ineffective patient-provider communication hinder access to such critical preventive measures. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the knowledge level of US female adults, aged 21-65 years, concerning HPV infection and cervical cancer prevention using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) database. Additionally, it assessed associations between patient-provider communication and the completion of Pap smear tests.

METHODS

Descriptive statistics were computed to explore the sociodemographic characteristics of female survey participants as well as to gather frequency and percentages of responses related to knowledge of HPV, awareness of the HPV vaccine, and history of Pap smear. Chi-squared tests were carried out to examine the associations between awareness of a cervical cancer vaccine or HPV shot and whether the participant has had a Pap smear, heard of the HPV vaccine, and knowledge of HPV's association with cervical cancer. Next, binary logistic regression models were built to determine the size and direction of the association between patient-provider communication metrics and measures of (1) having had a Pap smear, (2) participant knowledge of HPV, (3) participant awareness of causality between HPV and cervical cancer, and (4) participant knowledge of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer prevention measures.

RESULTS

A substantial majority of participants (81.8%) reported having heard of HPV. Among them, 72.1% recognized that HPV could cause cervical cancer. Awareness of the HPV vaccine was reported by 88.1%, suggesting a relatively high reach of effective public health messaging. Regarding Pap tests, 43.3% of participants had undergone testing within the past year, but 12.6% had not been tested in over five years, and 3.6% have never been tested. Bivariate analysis using chi-squared tests revealed significant associations between participants' history of Pap smears and their knowledge of HPV infection, its role in cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination as a prevention tool. Participants who had undergone a Pap test were more likely to have heard of HPV (p < 0.001), were knowledgeable of the HPV vaccine (p < 0.001), and were more aware of the HPV vaccine (p < 0.001). Participants reporting "never" for certain communication criteria significantly had an increased risk of having lower knowledge levels about the HPV vaccine and other cervical cancer prevention measures. They also had almost twice the risk of having lower knowledge levels about HPV prevention measures when reporting "never" (RR = 1.997, 95% CI (1.018-3.916) for "spending enough time with patients" compared to those selecting "always". Additionally, participants responding "sometimes" (RR = 1.889, 95% CI (1.187-3.005) rather than "always" to feeling involved in healthcare decisions had a significantly higher risk of being unaware of the vaccine or other cervical cancer prevention measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Strengthening provider communication and education skills not only encourages greater patient knowledge and adherence to preventative measures, such as HPV and cervical cancer screening, but also reduces disparities in healthcare stemming from limited health literacy.

Multilevel Targets for Promoting Pediatric HPV Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Parent-Centered, Provider-Centered, and Practice-Centered Interventions in HIC and LMIC Settings

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a predominant cause of cervical cancer globally in women. HPV-related cancers in men are also on the rise. Immunization against HPV infection is a highly effective preventative against these cancers. However, HPV vaccine programs are not easily implemented globally. The objective of this systematic review was to identify multilevel strategies associated with improved pediatric HPV vaccination in high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that target parent, provider, and practice points of interventions.

METHODS

Through a systematic search of electronic databases, we identified 159 peer-reviewed articles published between the years 2011 and 2023.

RESULTS

Ninety-five percent of the included studies were conducted in HICs. Just eight studies were set in LMICs. A variety of HPV vaccination outcomes were assessed including uptake, initiation of the series, continuation of the series, missed opportunities, time, and refusal. Eighty percent of studies reported improved pediatric HPV vaccination, including a third of studies with mixed findings. Parent-centered strategies included education programs and reminder/recall procedures. Provider-centered strategies also included education programs and training in communication. Practice-centered strategies included vaccine access programs, vaccine bundling protocols, provider prompts, standing orders, vaccine messaging, and lowering the initiation age to 9 years. Multilevel, multi-component programs were highly effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Multilevel strategies can be adopted in a variety of settings to promote HPV vaccination among youth globally. However, this research is disproportionately conducted in high resource environments. Further work is needed in LMIC settings as more countries begin to adopt HPV immunization programs.

Prevention of gynecological cancers: cervical cancer screening in Turkey: a role model for the world

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review examines Turkey's cervical cancer screening programme, highlighting its evolution from a cytology-based approach to a more effective HPV-based strategy. The review is timely given the global push to reduce cervical cancer incidence through improved screening practices, and it positions Turkey's programme as a potential model for other countries facing similar public health challenges.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances in cervical cancer screening in Turkey include the nationwide introduction of HPV DNA testing, centralized laboratory systems and innovative management software. The programme has significantly improved screening coverage and early detection rates, particularly in underserved communities. However, challenges remain in areas such as training healthcare workers, raising awareness of HPV vaccination, and integrating self-sampling methods into the screening process.

SUMMARY

The Turkish experience demonstrates that a well organized HPV-based cervical cancer screening programme can overcome significant cultural and logistical barriers and lead to improved public health outcomes. Future efforts should focus on refining triage strategies, exploring new molecular tests, and expanding the use of self-sampling to further improve the effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention efforts worldwide.

Decoding impact of human papillomavirus in gynecological oncology: a narrative review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a key factor in gynecological oncology. This narrative review investigates the complex connection between HPV and various gynecological cancers. For a comprehensive exploration, we examined the association between persistent HPV infection and cervical cancer and its global prevalence. Beyond the cervix, we navigated the linkages between HPV and other gynecological malignancies, shedding light on vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. The narrative extends to discuss the critical role of HPV vaccination in preventing these cancers and exploring challenges, controversies, and future perspectives in the field. As we have described the impact of HPV, this review underscores the significance of ongoing research and public health endeavors in shaping the trajectory of gynecological oncology.

Developing HPV Vaccination Communication Strategies: Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Healthcare Professionals in Kazakhstan

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer, predominantly caused by human papillomavirus, remains a major public health issue globally and in Kazakhstan, where it ranks among the most common cancers in women. A pilot HPV vaccination programme in Kazakhstan was suspended in 2017 due to mass parental refusals, and it is planned to be restarted in the coming years. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and sources of information about HPV and the HPV vaccine among healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study (December 2022-May 2023) involving 1189 healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan used a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, mean knowledge score, between-group comparisons, and binary logistic regression to identify factors linked to higher knowledge and vaccine recommendation.

RESULTS

The study found that the average knowledge score for HPV and the HPV vaccine among participants was 11 out of a possible 18. Correct answers to the questionnaire were observed more frequently among physicians than among nurses (p < 0.001). In our study, 72.6% of healthcare professionals expressed a positive intention to recommend the HPV vaccine. The likelihood of recommending the HPV vaccine was significantly higher among those with higher knowledge of HPV and its vaccine (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.5; p < 0.001), those familiar with cervical cancer patients (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5-2.8; p < 0.001), and those with positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine and childhood vaccination (OR 2.3 and 1.5, respectively). Healthcare professionals identified key barriers to HPV vaccination, including public mistrust (49.4%), fear of side effects (45.9%), and insufficient knowledge among healthcare professionals themselves (30.3%). Information from the internet, including articles and journals, was the most commonly used source of information, followed by social media and colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS

The disparities identified call for a tailored, multifaceted communication strategy that addresses the diverse needs of health professionals to address the differences in awareness between different groups, in order to ensure successful implementation and coverage of HPV vaccination across Kazakhstan.

Pediatric Oncology Providers' HPV Vaccine Knowledge, Attitude, Self-Efficacy, and Practice after Communication Training: A Comparison with a National Survey

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations prevent HPV infection and related cancers. Despite being at higher risk of secondary cancers linked to HPV, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are undervaccinated. This study aimed to compare pediatric oncology providers' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and practices regarding HPV vaccination among those who participated in a multilevel educational HPV vaccine program with those of a national sample of oncology providers.

METHODS

Between February and March 2023, 39 providers from five pediatric oncology clinics in Texas completed online surveys, assessing knowledge about CCS risk for HPV-related cancers, attitudes towards the HPV vaccine, and confidence in recommending the vaccine to CCS. The results were compared with a national survey of providers conducted in 2019 (n = 195).

RESULTS

The findings showed that providers who participated in our program had greater knowledge of CCS increased risk for HPV-related cancers (96% vs. 38%; p < 0.001); greater confidence in discussing and recommending the HPV vaccine (100% vs. 66%, p < 0.001) and addressing parental concerns (100% vs. 69%, p < 0.001); and a more positive attitude about oncology providers than general pediatricians, recommending (96% vs. 71%; p = 0.006) and administering the HPV vaccine to CCS (96% vs. 53%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of educating oncology providers about the increased risk of CCS and improving their self-efficacy to recommend the HPV vaccine, promoting vaccination in the oncology setting.

HPV vaccine standing orders and communication in primary care: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Standing orders may improve HPV vaccination rates, but clinical staff's readiness to use them has not been well-explored. We sought to explore benefits and challenges to using HPV vaccine standing orders for adolescents ages 9 to 12, understand clinical staff roles in communication about HPV vaccine, and how standing orders can reduce barriers contributing to vaccine disparities among racial and ethnic marginalized groups.

METHODS

Participants were a sample of 16 U.S. nurses, medical assistants, and healthcare providers working in primary care, recruited from June to September 2022. Trained staff conducted virtual, semi-structured qualitative interviews. We analyzed the resulting data using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Themes reflected benefits and challenges to using HPV vaccine standing orders and strategies to address clinic barriers to improve vaccine access and HPV vaccine communication. Benefits included faster and efficient clinic flow; fewer missed vaccine opportunities and promotion of early vaccination; and normalization of HPV vaccination as routine care. Challenges included possible exacerbation of existing HPV vaccine communication and recommendation barriers; and how the complexity of the vaccine administration schedule lessens nurses' and medical assistants' confidence to use standing orders. Strategies to address vaccine access barriers included using nurse-only visits to empower nurse autonomy and catch up on HPV vaccination; engaging clinical staff to follow up with overdue children; and educating parents on HPV vaccine before their child is vaccine eligible.

CONCLUSION

Using HPV vaccine standing orders can promote autonomy for nurses and medical assistants and address vaccine access barriers. Clinical staff engagement and clinic support to mitigate existing vaccine communication barriers are needed to empower staff to use of HPV vaccine standing orders.

"That Was an Eye Opener for Me": Mixed-Methods Outcomes Educating Texas Community Health Workers on HPV Vaccination Using Project ECHO®

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause six different types of cancer. HPV vaccination can prevent over 90% of these cancers. Community health workers (CHWs) have the potential to drive HPV vaccination demand through education and navigation by addressing vaccine hesitancy and dis/misinformation and by reaching non-English speaking, vulnerable, or rural populations. Despite their possible reach, there is limited research on HPV vaccination education programs for CHWs. In 2020-2021, the American Cancer Society (ACS) HPV Cancer Free Texas (HPVCFT) Project implemented the eight-session Mission: HPVCFT Vaccination ECHO-CHW Program ten times. This manuscript details the program's implementation processes and outcomes. The program used the Project ECHO model and was offered in both English and Spanish. One hundred and forty-six Texan CHWs completed pre- and post-training surveys. The participants demonstrated significant HPV vaccination knowledge increases and desirable shifts in their foundational HPV vaccination beliefs, including the belief that the HPV vaccine is for cancer prevention. The participants also reported increased confidence in communicating about the HPV vaccine in the community. Improving knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in HPV vaccination is the first step in addressing concerns and increasing uptake. Future research and interventions are needed to better understand how CHWs can be more systematically linked to vaccination opportunities or provided with clearer paths for directing patients to providers that vaccinate.

Healthcare professionals' perceptions of challenges in vaccine communication and training needs: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) can play an important role in encouraging patients and their caregivers to be vaccinated. The objective of this qualitative study was to investigate HCPs' perspectives on challenges in vaccine communication and unmet training needs in this domain.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 HCPs (mainly nurses and physicians) with vaccination roles (23 in England; 18 in France), gathering information on: (1) HCPs' approach to vaccine conversations with patients; (2) Challenges of communicating about vaccines; (3) Vaccine-related training and learning resources available to HCPs, and; (4) HCPs' training needs around vaccine communication.

RESULTS

HCPs described a range of communication experiences that indicated insufficient time, information, and skills to confidently navigate difficult conversations with vaccine-hesitant patients. Communication skills were especially important to avoid conflict that could potentially damage the patient-provider relationship. Some HCPs interviewed had received communication training, but for most, this training was not specific to vaccination. Although general communication skills were transferable to vaccine conversations, most HCPs welcomed specific training and informational resources to support countering patients' misconceptions or misinformation about vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS

HCPs would benefit from training tailored to address vaccine communication with patients, and this should be part of a systemic approach that also provides time and space to have effective vaccine conversations.

Identifying key challenges and optimizing approaches for training of health care professionals for HPV vaccination programmes

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a crucial role in building vaccine confidence and promoting vaccination programmes. HCP vaccination recommendations are often the strongest predictor of vaccine uptake, influencing individuals' acceptance of and demand for vaccination. However, HCP training on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination faces challenges in some countries, including Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda. This study summarizes the discussions held during the Coalition to Strengthen HPV Immunization Community Symposium in Africa, the field experiences of co-authors, and expert opinions to inform its findings. Key challenges faced in these countries are maintaining regular and comprehensive HCP training, ensuring continuity due to staff turnover, reaching all health facilities, and including teachers as key mobilizers. Funding constraints, limited communication materials, and human resource shortages can further impact training effectiveness. Recommendations for strengthening HCP training on HPV vaccination programmes include providing adequate training to all HCPs, refresher training, including private sector HCPs and teachers, leveraging local training institutions, and integrating HPV vaccine training into pre-service HCP academic curricula. These actions would be essential for improving HPV vaccine coverage and working towards cervical cancer elimination goals.

Development of Promising Interventions to Improve Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in a School-Based Program in Quebec, Canada: Results From a Formative Evaluation Using a Mixed Methods Design

BACKGROUND

Despite the availability of school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs, disparities in vaccine coverage persist. Barriers to HPV vaccine acceptance and uptake include parental attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, and system-level barriers. A total of 3 interventions were developed to address these barriers: an in-person presentation by school nurses, an email reminder with a web-based information and decision aid tool, and a telephone reminder using motivational interviewing (MI) techniques.

OBJECTIVE

Here we report on the development and formative evaluation of interventions to improve HPV vaccine acceptance and uptake among grade 4 students' parents in Quebec, Canada.

METHODS

In the summer of 2019, we conducted a formative evaluation of the interventions to assess the interventions' relevance, content, and format and to identify any unmet needs. We conducted 3 focus group discussions with parents of grade 3 students and nurses. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content using NVivo software (Lumivero). Nurses received training on MI techniques and we evaluated the effect on nurses' knowledge and skills using a pre-post questionnaire. Descriptive quantitative analyses were carried out on data from questionnaires relating to the training. Comparisons were made using the proportions of the results. Finally, we developed a patient decision aid using an iterative, user-centered design process. The iterative refinement process involved feedback from parents, nurses, and experts to ensure the tool's relevance and effectiveness. The evaluation protocol and data collection tools were approved by the CHU (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire) de Québec Research Ethics Committee (MP-20-2019-4655, May 16, 2019).

RESULTS

The data collection was conducted from April 2019 to March 2021. Following feedback (n=28) from the 3 focus group discussions in June 2019, several changes were made to the in-person presentation intervention. Experts (n=27) and school nurses (n=29) recruited for the project appreciated the visual and simplified information on vaccination in it. The results of the MI training for school nurses conducted in August 2019 demonstrated an increase in the skills and knowledge of nurses (n=29). School nurses who took the web-based course (n=24) filled out a pretest and posttest questionnaire to evaluate their learning. The rating increased by 19% between the pretest and posttest questionnaires. Several changes were made between the first draft of the web-based decision-aid tool and the final version during the summer of 2019 after an expert consultation of experts (n=3), focus group participants (n=28), and parents in the iterative process (n=5). More information about HPV and vaccines was added, and users could click if more detail is desired.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and pilot-tested 3 interventions using an iterative process. The interventions were perceived as potentially effective to increase parents' knowledge and positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination, and ultimately, vaccine acceptance. Future research will assess the effectiveness of these interventions on a larger scale.

Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on HPV Recommendations: Themes of Interest to Different Population Groups and Strategies for Approaching Them

As a flagship of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, the European Commission supports EU member states' efforts to strengthen and expand the routine vaccination of girls and boys against human papillomavirus (HPV). Populations across Europe have grown in diversity, and health systems must adapt to meet the specific needs of increasing diversity. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) must strive to communicate HPV vaccine information in a culturally sensitive manner and address specific concerns related to cultural beliefs, trust in health systems and perceived risks. The objectives of this exploratory study are to identify which themes are most frequently raised during the recommendation of vaccination to minors based on the characteristics of the population (religion, region of origin, gender, level of education and language proficiency) and to collect strategies to improve communication with a diverse population. A survey was distributed through various European public health institutions to HCPs in the region and their networks. The survey included multi-response questions (themes addressed during vaccination recommendation based on population characteristics) and open-ended questions (own qualitative comments and strategies). The most common issues that arise during vaccine recommendation are a lack of knowledge, followed by misinformation. Differences were detected according to the population characteristics. Suggested strategies to improve HPV vaccine recommendation focused on the following aspects: affordability; sexuality and gender; communication platforms; multilingualism; quality of care; school collaboration. HCPs report differences according to the characteristics of the population receiving the recommendation. Personalisation of the recommendations would help to optimise the decision-making process for some groups.

Barriers to the assessment and recommendation of HPV vaccination among healthcare providers in Texas

Background

Healthcare providers (HCPs) recommendations for HPV vaccination plays a critical role in increasing vaccination uptake. This study assesses the prevalence of reported barriers to HPV vaccination assessment and recommendation among HCPs in Texas.

Methods

Study data were obtained from a population-based survey of HCPs currently practicing in Texas. Participants were asked about their HPV vaccination assessment and recommendation practices and the reasons for not assessing or recommending the vaccine. Barriers were stratified by HCP characteristics including age, sex, race/ethnicity, location of practice, provider type, and type of facility.

Results

Among the 826 HCPs included in this study, 47.3 % never, 49.6 % sometimes, and 3.0 % often/always assessed a patient's HPV vaccination status. Similarly, 36.0 % never, 36.2 % sometimes, and 27.9 % often/always recommended HPV vaccination. The most frequently reported barriers to assessment and recommendation of HPV vaccination were time constraints (22.9 %), delegating the task to others (15.0 %), lack of effective tools and information to give patients (12.0 %), and requiring additional training (9.2 %). HCPs who were female, less than 35 years old, non-Hispanic black, and nonphysician HCPs (Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) most frequently reported lacking effective tools and information and a need for additional training.

Conclusion

The assessment and recommendation for HPV vaccination among HCPs in Texas is suboptimal. Barriers reported varied based on the provider's characteristics. Addressing these barriers, such as by providing more effective tools and information and offering additional training to HCPs, could potentially increase HPV vaccination rates in Texas. The findings also suggest that interventions should be tailored to specific demographic groups.

Effect of age at initiation of the human papillomavirus vaccine on the association between race/ethnicity and completion of the vaccine series

BACKGROUND

Up-to-date (UTD) of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series has been low despite 2016 recommendations for 2 doses among initiators <15 years of age and 3 doses for 15+ year olds. This study examined how age at initiation affected the association between race/ethnicity and UTD among adolescent HPV vaccine initiators. We also examined how administration of other adolescent vaccines affected UTD.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of The National Immunization Survey - Teen data between 2016 and 2020 was conducted. Characteristics associated with initiation of the vaccine series was examined and used to evaluate UTD among initiators. All data were weighted. Associations between characteristics and HPV vaccine initiation were examined using Rao Scott chi-square tests and univariable logistic regression. Multivariable binary logistic regression models stratified by race/ethnicity calculated the strength of association between independent variables and odds of initiation and UTD among initiators.

RESULTS

The final sample size was 99,719 with 67,855 (68.1 %) initiating HPV vaccination. Among HPV vaccine initiators, Hispanic and black adolescents had lower odds of UTD. However, 9-10-year-old initiators had increased odds (aOR: 5.71; 95 %CI: 3.78-8.63) of UTD compared to 12-year-old initiators. Increased odds of UTD among initiators younger than 12 years were found across racial/ethnic groups. Flu vaccination was associated with decreased odds of UTD among white (aOR: 0.76; 95 %CI:0.65-0.88) and black adolescents (aOR: 0.67; 95 %CI: 0.46-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Strong recommendations to ensure patients are UTD on the HPV vaccine series are essential to improving UTD among all adolescents and follow-up should occur when administering other vaccines to reduce missed opportunities.

Do Not Throw Away Your Shot: Pilot Study in Improving Medical School Curricula Through Focused Vaccine Education

Introduction

With widely prevalent vaccine hesitancy and medical mistrust, future healthcare providers require knowledge of vaccines and comfort in discussing vaccines with patients. However, many U.S. medical schools do not offer formal or elective curricula focused on vaccine education.

Methods

We sought to identify the need for such a curriculum and student gaps in knowledge through a pilot study surveying first- and second-year medical students at a large Pennsylvania medical school to assess knowledge about vaccine initiatives/policies, comfort in discussing vaccines, attitudes toward curricular changes, and effects of COVID-19 on willingness for vaccine education.

Results

Many participants (>40%) reported insufficient knowledge of vaccine policy, vaccine development and testing, and community vaccine initiatives. The majority (>50%) indicated discomfort in discussing vaccines in a clinical setting. Importantly, 79% of participants reported insufficient coverage of vaccine topics in the current curriculum. A total of 54% decisively wanted formal/mandatory education versus 72% who decisively wanted elective education. Desiring formal education was associated with less comfort in discussing vaccines overall and with vaccine-hesitant people in clinical settings. Reassuringly, 74% of participants noted that the COVID-19 pandemic made them want to learn more about vaccines. Guided by these findings, we conducted a pilot elective teaching about vaccines through case studies, interactive discussions, and role-playing scenarios. Pre- and postcourse surveys showed improvement in student knowledge in all vaccine-related topics assessed.

Conclusions

These data can inform the development of formal and elective curricula that effectively prepare medical students for patients' vaccine questions.

Perceptions, Attitudes, and Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Residents in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection globally, with significant associations with various cancers. Despite the availability of HPV vaccines, vaccination uptake remains suboptimal in many regions, including Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey-based study aimed to assess perceptions, attitudes, and barriers related to HPV vaccination among residents in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited using a stratified sampling method, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered electronically.

RESULTS

A total of 600 participants were included in the study, with diverse demographic profiles observed. The largest age group was 26-35 years old, comprising 42.7% (n = 256) of the sample. The distribution of gender was approximately equal, with 54.7% (n = 328) male participants. Notable perception and knowledge about HPV were observed, with 49.7% (n = 298) reporting being very familiar. Furthermore, 85.8% (n = 515) believed that HPV could cause serious health problems, and 63.7% (n = 382) perceived the vaccine to be very effective. Positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination were prevalent, with a significant proportion expressing a willingness to recommend the vaccine to themselves (70.0%, n = 420) and their children (65.0%, n = 390). Healthcare provider recommendation emerged as a key influencing factor, with 73.8% (n = 443) citing it as influential. Despite favorable attitudes, barriers to HPV vaccination were reported, including vaccine cost (22.5%, n = 135) and lack of awareness (13.7%, n = 82). However, a substantial proportion of unvaccinated participants cited not applicable reasons (57.2%, n = 343), indicating prior vaccination. Factors associated with HPV vaccination uptake included higher education levels, with those holding a master's degree or above exhibiting higher odds of vaccination uptake (OR (odds ratio): 1.80, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.35-2.40, p < 0.001). Age (26-35 vs. 18-25) also showed a borderline significant association (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.98-1.60, p = 0.074).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the importance of understanding perceptions and barriers to HPV vaccination to inform public health policies and programs in Saudi Arabia. Addressing identified barriers, such as educational campaigns and improving access to vaccination services, is essential for enhancing HPV vaccination coverage and reducing the burden of HPV-related diseases in the region.

Effectiveness of provider communication training for increasing human papillomavirus vaccine initiation at a safety-net health system

Background

Strong provider recommendation can increase uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Therefore, we developed and implemented a provider education intervention on communication strategies for recommending HPV vaccination with clinic-level audit and feedback (HPV: Communicating about HPV to Adults and Teens [HPV CHAT]). We aimed to evaluate the effect of HPV CHAT on HPV vaccine uptake in seven family medicine and pediatric clinics in a large urban health system (USA).

Methods

We used a quasi-experimental design, where the eligible population included people aged 9-26 years with at least one encounter in June 2020-February 2023 at one of the participating community health clinics. We used interrupted time-series analysis to assess changes in the prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake. We used segmented Poisson regression with a log link function to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence limits (CL) for level (immediate) and slope (over time) changes with adjustment for seasonality using Fourier transformation.

Results

Our study population comprised 60,328 observations in which the median age was 17 years (interquartile range: 13-21). A majority (58%) were female and 87% were racial/ethnic minorities. Overall, we observed no sizeable effect of the intervention on HPV vaccination uptake. Nonetheless, heterogeneity was observed by age group with modest increases in individuals aged 9-12 and 13-17 years.

Conclusion

Our provider feedback intervention had minimal effect on increasing prevalence of HPV vaccination in seven family medicine and pediatric clinics. Novel strategies are needed to address provider barriers related to HPV vaccination.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine among Cardiologists and Cardiac Nurses in Italy

Background and Objectives: Cardiac patients are particularly at risk of herpes zoster (HZ), which is associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events. This research aimed to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) among cardiac healthcare professionals (HPs). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a cardiological hospital in Italy. Multivariate regression models were built to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: The response rate was 78.2% (154/197). Overall, age > 50 years and immunosuppression were recognized as risk factors for HZ by 38.3% and 75.3% of respondents, respectively. Regarding RZV, 29.1% of the HPs correctly responded about its schedule and 57.6% about the possibility of administration in immunocompromised individuals. This knowledge was significantly higher in HPs with a higher educational level (odds ratio (OR) = 4.42; 95%CI 1.70-11.47), in those who knew that HZ could cause postherpetic neuralgia (OR = 2.56; 95%CI 1.05-6.25) or major cardiovascular events (OR = 4.23; 95%CI 1.50-11.91), in those who had participated in professional updates on vaccinations (OR = 3.86; 95%CI 1.51-9.87) and in those who stated the need for further information about the RZV (OR = 6.43; 95%CI 1.42-29.98). Younger HPs (coefficient (β) = -0.02; 95%CI -0.04--0.01), those with a positive attitude toward RZV safety (β = 2.92; 95%CI 2.49-3.36) and those who had previously cared for patients with HZ (β = 0.45; 95%CI 0.03-0.88) reported a more positive attitude toward RZV effectiveness. The practice of recommending vaccination was more prevalent in younger HPs (OR = 0.94; 95%CI 0.89-0.99), in those who had a master's degree or higher education (OR = 7.21; 95%CI 1.44-36.08), in those with more positive attitudes toward RZV effectiveness (OR = 7.17; 95%CI 1.71-30.03) and in HPs who had already recommended the vaccine to patients in the past (OR = 4.03; 95%CI 1.08-14.96). Conclusions: Despite being a single-center study, our research brings attention to factors that currently impact cardiac HPs' approaches to RZV. The findings indicate potential measures to enhance HPs' awareness and practices, ultimately aiming to improve vaccination adherence and reduce the burden associated with HZ.

An Interactive Educational Tool to Improve Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Knowledge and Recommendation Among Nurses

In United States, only 57% of  women and 53% of men in the recommended age groups have received all recommended doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Healthcare provider education has been associated with strong vaccine recommendation and vaccination uptake. Our objective was to create a 7-min interactive online educational tool to improve knowledge and willingness to recommend the HPV vaccine among nurses. This is a prospective pre-test/post-test study to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational tool consisting of 10 flashcards in a question-answer format. Oncology nurses at our cancer center were invited to participate by email, which led them to the educational tool (i.e., intervention) along with pre- and post-test questions on HPV-associated cancers, vaccine-eligible age groups, dosing schedules, adverse events, and willingness to recommend. Of the 110 participants (mean age of 41.2 ± 11.4, 98% female, 64% >10 years of practice), there was improvement in knowledge after intervention in HPV-associated cancers (81% to 97%; p = 0.02), percentage of cervical caused by HPV (33% to 64%; p < 0.05), and dosing schedule (47% to 93%; p < 0.05). All participants correctly stated that continued screening is needed after vaccination both pre- and post-intervention. Eighty-five percent strongly agreed that the intervention improved their HPV knowledge, and 77% stated they were more likely to recommend the HPV vaccine after the intervention. While nurses are willing to recommend the vaccine, there remains persistent knowledge gaps. A brief 7-min self-administered online interactive flashcard educational intervention is effective in improving the HPV vaccine knowledge among nurses.

Can physicians and schools mitigate social inequalities in human papillomavirus vaccine awareness, uptake and vaccination intention among adolescents? A cross-sectional study, France, 2021 to 2022

BackgroundIn France, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage varies across socioeconomic levels.AimWe aimed at assessing HPV vaccine awareness, uptake and vaccination intention among adolescents in France.MethodsIn a cluster-randomised study, 13-15-year-old students in 61 French middle schools completed a web-based questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate determinants of HPV vaccine awareness, self-reported uptake and vaccination intention among unvaccinated students and interaction terms to explore effects of visits to family physician and remembering school lessons on vaccination. The French deprivation index of school municipalities served as proxy for socioeconomic levels.ResultsAmong 6,992 participants, awareness was significantly associated with parental education (odds ratio (OR) = 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-0.95), language spoken at home (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.52-0.66) and deprivation level (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.44-0.71), regardless of physician visit or school lessons. Vaccine uptake was associated with parental education without a recent physician visit (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.16-0.59, vs OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.52-0.78 with a visit, interaction p = 0.045). Vaccination intention among unvaccinated was associated with deprivation level (moderate-low vs low) among students not remembering school lessons on vaccination (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.62, vs OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.51-1.67 remembering school lessons, interaction p = 0.022). Parental education was associated with vaccination intention among students reporting a physician visit (OR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26-0.64 vs OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.50-2.20 without a visit, interaction p = 0.034).ConclusionOur results suggest that healthcare and school could promote vaccination and mitigate social inequalities in HPV vaccination coverage.

Countering vaccine hesitancy: a systematic review of interventions to strengthen healthcare professionals' action

BACKGROUND

Vaccine hesitancy is relevant for healthcare professionals (HCPs) who face challenges in building trusting relationships with patients. Accordingly, the VAX-TRUST project has been developed to improve experiences of HCPs and patients dealing with vaccinations. To support VAX-TRUST, this work aimed to identify latest interventions targeted at HCPs to address hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA by searching PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO. Articles were eligible if evaluated interventions directly targeted at HCPs/healthcare students. The search was run on 26 January 2022. Articles published in 2016 or after were included.

RESULTS

A total of 17 492 records were identified; 139 articles were selected. Most articles were set in USA (n = 110). Over half had a pre-post design without a control group (n = 78). A total of 41 articles focused on single-component interventions, 60 on multi-component interventions involving only HCPs and/or students and 38 on multi-component interventions involving also other professionals. Main components were in-person education (n = 76), synchronous (n = 10) and asynchronous (n = 23) online learning, educational materials (n = 26), performance assessment and feedback (n = 33), electronic record changes (n = 30), role play/simulation (n = 21) and online games/apps (n = 5). Educational sessions were mainly about scientific update or communication. Outcomes of interventions were grouped in: vaccination rates (n = 69), knowledge (n = 32), attitudes (n = 26), confidence in counselling (n = 30) and acceptability (n = 16).

CONCLUSIONS

Apps, gaming, role play/simulations could represent innovative interventions. This review highlighted the need of delving into communication strategies and using more robust evaluations, longer follow-up and standardized measurements.

Addressing knowledge gaps: the key role of community health workers and healthcare providers in human papillomavirus prevention and vaccine uptake in a border community

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and nearly every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some point in their lifetime without having the HPV vaccine. Healthcare Providers (HCPs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs) play an essential role in promoting the HPV vaccine and providing education about HPV in communities. Three focus groups with CHWs (n = 17) and HCPs (n = 7) were conducted and led by trained facilitators. In addition to participating in the focus group, CHWs and HCPs completed a brief questionnaire. Focus groups were voice recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. Independent coders conducted content analysis to identify the salient themes of the focus groups. Several important findings emerged from this study highlighting the barriers to HPV knowledge, gaps in the self-perceived role of HPV cancer prevention, and opportunities to action. Financial, knowledge, patriarchy, behaviors, attitudes, and fears were identified as the perceived patient-related barriers to promoting HPV cancer prevention. Both CHWs and HCPs explained that their female patients are often discouraged by their husbands from seeking out sexual health-related healthcare. Finding suggest the need for community tailored education on HPV and "best practice" trainings for HPV prevention that is applicable to both CHWs and HCPs.

Exploring HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes, barriers and information sources among parents, health professionals and teachers in Kazakhstan: a mixed-methods study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection linked to certain types of malignant neoplasms, notably cervical cancer (CC). In Kazakhstan, a high prevalence of high oncogenic HPV types (HR-HPV) has been observed, and CC ranks as the second most common malignancy among women with a crude incidence rate of 18.3 cases per 100 000 women. The HPV vaccine, developed as the primary prevention measure against HPV infection, including the most prevalent HR-HPV, received approval from the WHO in 2009. In 2014, Kazakhstan initiated HPV vaccination as a pilot project in four sub-national regions; however, it was later in 2017 discontinued due to widespread parental refusal influenced by negative media reports. This study aims to examine knowledge, attitudes, information sources, barriers to HPV vaccination and factors associated with HPV vaccination hesitancy among different target groups in Kazakhstan prior to the HPV vaccine re-launch announced by the Ministry of Health.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This mixed-method-designed research comprises quantitative and qualitative components. Data on HPV awareness, attitudes towards HPV vaccination and sources of information will be collected through an online survey administered by parents and legal guardians, health professionals, and schoolteachers in the Republic of Kazakhstan between January 2023 and January 2024. Additionally, qualitative data on Kazakhstani parental beliefs and attitudes toward HPV vaccination will be collected through online focus group discussions.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

The study has been approved by the local ethics committee at the Kazakhstan Medical University "Higher School of Public Health" (KMU "KSPH") (No. 138 of 31.05.2021). The results will be reported in publications, at conferences among researchers and healthcare and school education professionals in Kazakhstan, and internationally.

Evaluation of the Knowledge and Attitude of Adolescents Regarding the HPV Infection, HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer in a Region from the Northwest of Romania

Purpose

In Romania, after reaching the age of 18, teenage girls can make an informed decision about vaccination. The aim of the study was to evaluate both knowledge and attitudes related to HPV infection, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer, as well as intentions, reservations, reasons that could influence the decision related to vaccination.

Patients and Methods

We applied an anonymized questionnaire to 690 teenage girls in the 18-19 age group, recruited from 15 high schools in Bihor County. Based on the answers to the question corresponding to item 14 of subscale 3, 2 groups were identified: the group with a hesitant behavior called the non-vaccine group (GNV) and the group with a positive behavior called the pro-vaccine group (GPV). The statistical analysis was processed by using IBM-SPSS 22.

Results

The analysis revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of the level of knowledge and attitudes related to vaccination, the adolescent girls in the GPV being more aware of the role and importance of HPV vaccination and more open to the idea of vaccination. For the GNV, the behavior can be explained by the fact that even if they have heard about the HPV infection being transmitted through unprotected sex and they think that vaccination in general is necessary to prevent certain diseases, they do not know if HPV vaccination would be effective in protecting them in the future. Adolescents from GPV declare they would accept HPV vaccination if it would be offered to them or they are already vaccinated.

Conclusion

Alongside interventions targeting parents and health-care professionals, it is necessary to improve the level of knowledge of adolescents about HPV infection, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer, by organizing information campaigns in schools, campaigns in which professionals in the field should be involved, but also by implementing education programs addressed to them.

Motives and attitudes of parents toward HPV vaccination: Results from the initial period of HPV vaccine rollout in Serbia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common viral infections in sexually active population worldwide, and is the main cause of cervical cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer among women. Serbia ranks third in incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Europe. We conducted a cross-sectional study considering parents' motivation for the HPV vaccination of their children. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model. We found that the strongest motive was "Recommendation from paediatrician" (20.2%), followed by the attitude that HPV vaccine protects against cancers in different localization (15.4%), the motive "It is better to vaccinate a child than expose them to potential risk of HPV infection" (13.3%) and "Feeling anxiety due to a possible infection and cancer in the child" (13.1%). For those parents that vaccinated their child for some other strongest motive, reasons like "Vaccine is free of charge", "Recommendation from friends and family" and motive "My child received all obligatory vaccines, so I want to receive this one as well", were significantly more frequently selected. In the group where paediatricians' recommendation was not a motive for accepting the HPV vaccine, the largest percentage of parents (89.6%) selected motive "HPV vaccine protects against cancers in different localization" and the motive "It is better to vaccinate a child than expose them to potential risk of HPV infection" (78.1%). Paediatrician's recommendation is very important for parents' decision to vaccinate, however, other motives also influenced and had significance in making the parents' decision to vaccinate their children against HPV. Encouraging trust in public health authorities in Serbia, highlighting the advantages of the HPV vaccine and further encouraging healthcare workers to give stronger recommendations can increase the HPV vaccine uptake. Finally, we provided the basis to create more targeted messages that will empower parents to vaccinate their children.

Knowledge and Attitudes towards Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV) among Healthcare Providers Involved in the Governmental Free HPV Vaccination Program in Shenzhen, Southern China

No research has been conducted to explore the variables associated with healthcare providers' (HCPs) knowledge and attitudes toward the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) since the vaccine was approved for free use in some Chinese cities. In Shenzhen, southern China, a convenience sample strategy was used to distribute questionnaires to HCPs involved in the government's HPV vaccination program from Shenzhen. There were 828 questionnaires collected in total, with 770 used in the analysis. The mean HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge score was 12.0 among HCPs involved in the government HPV vaccination program (with a total score of 15). the average scores for HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge varied among different types of medical institutions. District hospitals had the highest mean score of 12.4, while private hospitals ranked fourth with a mean score of 10.9. Multivariate logistic regression results revealed significant disparities in the type of license and after-tax annual income across HCPs (p < 0.05). The future education and training for HCPs should focus on private community health centers (CHCs), HCPs whose license type is other than a doctor, and HCPs with low after-tax annual income.

Understanding the Factors Influencing Health Care Provider Recommendations about Adolescent Vaccines: A Proposed Framework

Health care provider recommendations are among the most important factors influencing parents' decisions to vaccinate their adolescents. However, delivery of high-quality health care provider recommendations for vaccination is not universal. There is wide variation in the strength, timeliness and consistency of the delivery of recommendations for all adolescent vaccines. The factors that influence health care providers' recommendations are multi-level and can be conceptualized in much the same way as vaccine acceptance among parents. Health care providers are influenced by their own attitudes and beliefs about a vaccine and also by the patient they are treating and by the community in which they practice as well as state and national level vaccine policy. We propose a multi-level framework for understanding the factors that influence health care providers' recommendations at the individual, interpersonal and community level to both develop and adapt interventions to improve providers' recommendations.

Pediatric and Family Physicians' Attitudes Regarding Childhood Optional Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

To maintain high vaccination rates, vaccination interventions should be targeted according to interests such as parents' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and vaccine hesitancy.

METHODS

This research was conducted between June 2020 and April 2021 using a questionnaire about optional vaccines (OVs) in Turkey.

RESULTS

A total of 241 physicians participated and 14 physicians were excluded due to insufficient data. Finally, a total of 227 physicians, including 115 pediatricians and 112 family physicians, were included in the study. The mean age of pediatricians and family physicians was 33.42 ± 8.25 years and 35.46 ± 11.09 years, respectively. There was no significant difference between pediatricians and family physicians in terms of age and gender (p > 0.05). Nearly half of all physicians (49%) stated that they do not have sufficient knowledge about OVs. Pediatricians (64%) stated that they have sufficient knowledge at a higher rate than family physicians (37%) (p = 0.000). Physicians who declared having sufficient knowledge informed families about OVs more frequently than those with insufficient knowledge (p = 0.000). Pediatricians provide information about OVs more frequently than family physicians (p = 0.001). Rotavirus and meningococcal vaccines were the most frequently recommended vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotavirus and meningococcal B were the most recommended OVs. About half of the physicians participating in the study stated that they did not have sufficient knowledge about OVs. Physicians with sufficient knowledge of OVs recommend OVs more frequently.

Protective Vaccination Used by Doctors for Prevention of Infections

Doctors, as with all healthcare workers, are a specific risk group due to a high probability of contact with contagious pathogens. An online survey was conducted among Polish doctors to establish their use of protective vaccination to decrease their personal risk of infection. The online survey was conducted using questions about medics' vaccination decisions and approaches. The results revealed that immunization against VPDs for most participants was not adequate based on recommendations or developments in vaccinology. To increase vaccination as a prophylactic method among doctors, especially those not involved in the immunization of patients, an educational campaign is demanded. As non-immunized medics are at risk themselves and are also a threat to the safety of patients, legal changes and the monitoring of vaccine acceptance and perception among medics are required.

HPV Knowledge Retention and Concurrent Increase in Vaccination Rates 1.5 Years After a Novel HPV Workshop in Medical School

Comprehensive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) pathogenesis, vaccination, and patient counseling are not routinely included in the medical school curriculum; consequently, student and provider knowledge, especially concerning head and neck pathology, remains low. The objective of this study was to demonstrate long-term retention of HPV knowledge and positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination after attending our novel HPV workshop, with a focus on knowledge of oropharyngeal cancer. A follow-up survey was administered to medical students 1.5 years after the initial completion of the workshop. HPV vaccination records from the student-led clinic were collected from the immunization information system. Awareness that HPV causes oropharyngeal cancer was present in 33% of medical students pre-curriculum; immediate and long-term post-curricular awareness of this association remained at 90% or higher (p < 0.0001). Comfort with HPV counseling, having enough information to recommend the vaccine, and knowledge of HPV malignancies, symptoms, transmission, and vaccination schedule remained persistently elevated over pre-curriculum scores (p < 0.05). Long-term knowledge scores were also higher than a control group of medical students at the same stage of training who had never participated in the workshop (p < 0.05). HPV vaccination rates at the medical school's student-run clinic also increased after the curriculum, from an average of 1.89 HPV vaccines given per clinic to 3.55 (p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that knowledge and positive attitudes were maintained 1.5 years after participating in this HPV curriculum during students' preclinical years of medical school. Additionally, an increase in HPV vaccination rates occurred at a student-led clinic, indicating a positive clinical impact on the curriculum.

Healthcare Provider's Perceived Self-Efficacy in HPV Vaccination Hesitancy Counseling and HPV Vaccination Acceptance

BACKGROUND

HPV vaccine hesitancy is a key contributor to the sub-optimal HPV vaccination uptake in the United States. We aimed to determine the association between healthcare providers' self-efficacy in HPV vaccination hesitancy counseling and HPV vaccination acceptance after initial and follow-up counseling sessions.

METHODS

Population-based cross-sectional study of healthcare providers (HCPs) practicing in Texas. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds of HPV vaccination acceptance by vaccine-hesitant patients. Additionally, generalized estimating equations were used to compare HPV vaccination acceptance by hesitant patients after follow-up versus initial counseling sessions.

RESULTS

1283 HCPs completed the survey with a mean (SD) age of 47.1 (11.3) years. HCPs who believed that they were very/completely confident in counseling HPV-vaccine-hesitant parents had higher odds of observing HPV vaccination acceptance very often/always after an initial counseling session (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.50; 95% CI: 2.25-5.44) and after follow-up counseling sessions (AOR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.66-4.00) compared to HCPs that perceived they were not at all/somewhat/moderately confident. The odds of HPV vaccination being accepted very often/always by vaccine-hesitant parents was 61% (AOR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.32-1.95) higher after follow-up counseling sessions compared to an initial counseling session. The results were similar for the counseling of HPV-vaccine-hesitant adult patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The confidence level of HCPs in counseling hesitant parents and adult patients impacts HPV vaccination acceptance. Importantly, acceptance was higher after follow-up counseling sessions than initial counseling sessions. HCPs should receive training in HPV vaccination counseling to enhance their confidence in counseling hesitant patients and should utilize every visit to counsel hesitant patients.

Barriers in the School-Based Pan-Gender HPV Vaccination Program in Sweden: Healthcare Providers' Perspective

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines effectively prevent, and can even eliminate, HPV-related cancers. Currently, vaccination rates are suboptimal in the national Swedish school-based vaccination program. School nurses play a key role in all aspects of the vaccination process. Therefore, this study aims to explore school nurses' perceived HPV vaccination challenges.

METHODS

Seven focus group interviews were conducted with school nurses (n = 35) working in nine socio-demographically diverse municipalities in mid-Sweden. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Participants described difficulties in encountering and handling the diversity of reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Parents known to be skeptical of vaccines in general were seen as most difficult to reach. Uncertainty was expressed concerning the extent of professional responsibility for vaccine promotion. The informants expressed a lack of guidelines for vaccine promotion and described challenges in supporting the child's own wishes. Creating a safe space for the individual child was seen as crucial. Other problems described were the challenges of overcoming children's fear of needles, supporting unvaccinated children, and being confronted with the remaining gender inequities of the pan-gender vaccination program.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that school nurses, especially those new to their profession, may benefit from training and guidance22 material on how to address vaccine hesitancy.

What impact does the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination have on physicians as vaccine providers? A cross sectional study from the German outpatient sector

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 vaccination is recognized as a key component in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians' attitudes toward vaccination are known to play a defining role in the management and dissemination of medical advice to patients. In Germany, outpatient practitioners are predominantly responsible for the dissemination of vaccines.

METHOD

Using a cross-sectional online survey, 932 outpatient general practitioners, gynecologists, and pediatricians in Germany were asked in fall, 2021, about their attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination and - among others - their communication in vaccine discussions, their assessment of vaccine safety, and reporting of suspected adverse events. Physicians were divided into two groups along their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, multivariate linear regression models were constructed to assess differences in communication strategies.

RESULTS

92 % of physicians had a positive or very positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Own vaccination status, practice-based vaccination delivery, and estimated vaccination coverage among patients were significantly associated with the attitude toward vaccination. Confidence in vaccine safety was significantly lower among physicians with negative attitudes. There were no differences between the two groups in self-assessment of the ability to detect suspected adverse events, but there were differences in the observing and reporting of adverse events. For the linear regression models, we found that a more negative attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with increased acceptance of patient refusal of COVID-19 vaccination and empathic behavior for patient concerns. In contrast, willingness to engage in a detailed persuasion consultation was significantly lower. Pediatricians showed significantly higher empathy for patient-side concerns compared to general practitioners, whereas gynecologists showed less empathy than general practitioners.

DISCUSSION

The physician's attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination influences the physician's practices as a vaccine provider. However, when providing medical advice and healthcare, the physician should focus on the actual needs of the patient.

HPV vaccination: Intention to participate among female senior high school students in Ghana

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in Ghana. HPV vaccination is expected to be added to the national vaccination schedule in 2023. This study aimed to: i) describe intentions to participate in HPV vaccination and ii) explore factors associated with vaccination intentions among female senior high school students in Ghana.

METHODS

Female students (aged 16-24) were recruited from 17 senior high schools in Ashanti Region. A cross-sectional anonymous self-report paper-and-pen survey assessed students' HPV vaccination intentions using three items, and a range of correlates (individual, parent/family, social networks, service provision). Descriptive statistics were calculated for vaccination intentions, and correlates of intention scores (where higher scores indicate stronger intentions) were explored with a linear mixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Of 2400 participants, 64% (95%CI: 62%, 67%) agreed with at least one vaccination intention item. Uncertainty and disagreement with at least one item were endorsed by 51% (95%CI: 49%, 53%) and 44% (95%CI: 42%, 46%) of students, respectively. One-quarter of the students (25%, 95%CI: 23%, 26%) agreed, 12% (95% 11%, 13%) disagreed, and 11% (95%CI: 10%,13%) indicated uncertainty, on all three vaccination intention items. Vaccination uptake was 4.5%. Students were likely to have higher vaccination intention scores if: they had stronger beliefs about vaccine effectiveness; vaccination was recommended by parents, religious leaders and service providers, and vaccinated peers; and it was free. Students were likely to have lower vaccination intention scores if they perceived barriers to vaccination (e.g., side effects).

CONCLUSIONS

While two-thirds of students had some intention to participate in HPV vaccination, vaccine hesitancy (i.e., uncertainty or disagreement) was apparent. Alongside the rollout of a free national vaccination programme, messaging about vaccination benefits and effectiveness targeting students, as well as parents, religious leaders, service providers and peers would be beneficial given their influential role in students' vaccination intentions.

Knowledge about human papillomavirus transmission and prevention among physicians in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess physicians' knowledge about human papillomavirus infection and its prevention.

METHODS

Descriptive web-based survey with 15 objective questions targeted to physicians affiliated with the Regional Council of Medicine from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Participants were invited by e-mail and the Council social networks, between January and December 2019.

RESULTS

The study sample had 623 participants, with a median age of 45 years, predominantly women (63%). The most frequent specialties were Obstetrics and Gynecology (21.1%), Pediatrics (11.2%), and Internists (10.5%). Concerning human papillomavirus knowledge, 27.9% of the participants were able to identify accurately all possible forms of transmission, and none of them could recognize all the risk factors of infection. Nevertheless, 95% recognized that asymptomatic infection could occur in both sexes. Regarding knowledge about clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and screening, only 46.5% were able to identify all human papillomavirus-related cancers, 42.6% were aware of the periodicity of Pap smears, and 39.4% indicated that serological test was not adequate for diagnosis. The recommended age group for human papillomavirus vaccination was recognized by 94% of the participants, as well as the need for a Pap smear and the use of condoms, even after vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

There is good knowledge about prevention and screening for human papillomavirus infections; many gaps were identified regarding transmission, risk factors, and associated diseases among physicians in Rio de Janeiro state.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intent and its associated factors: a study of ethnically diverse married women aged 27 to 45 in Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate HPV vaccination intention among adult married women aged 27 to 45 years and its associated factors, and their spouse/partner's influence on HPV vaccination decision-making.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. Study participants were recruited through simple random sampling of patients attending obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinics in a university teaching hospital. Participants were selected based on a computer-generated list of a random list of patients attending the clinic.

RESULTS

A total of 794 complete responses were received (response rate 88.2%). The mean age of the respondents was 32.2 years with a standard deviation (SD) of ±3.9 years.The vast majority (85.3%) would communicate with their spouse/partner with regard to HPV vaccination decision-making. Nearly 30% (over half were of the Malay ethnic group) perceived their spouse/partner would not consent to their HPV vaccination. Over half (54.9%) reported joint decision-making, and 9.1% (the majority of whom were Malay) reported that HPV vaccination was dependent on their spouse/partner's decision. Intention to vaccinate against HPV was high (74.5%). Factors influencing HPV vaccination intention were spouse/partner's consent to HPV vaccination (odds ratio [OR] = 4.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.08-6.62), being a postgraduate student (OR = 4.55; 95% CI, 2.13-9.72 vs. unemployed/housewife), average household income MYR2000-4000 (OR = 2.09; 95%CI, 1.16-3.78 vs. below MYR2000), and an HPV-related knowledge score of 9-20 (OR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.10-2.32 vs. score 0-8).

CONCLUSION

Findings highlight the importance of culture-centered interventions to enhance male partner's awareness and support for the HPV vaccination of married women.

Association of provider HPV vaccination training with provider assessment of HPV vaccination status and recommendation of HPV vaccination

The delivery of strong HPV vaccine recommendations hinges on the expertise of healthcare providers (HCPs) in assessing patients' status and recommending HPV vaccination. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of HCPs practicing in Texas to examine the relationship between HPV vaccination training of HCPs and HPV vaccination status assessment and recommendation. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between HCPs' formal training and recency of training in HPV vaccination promotion or counseling with HPV vaccination status assessment and recommendation. Of the 1,283 HCPs who completed the online survey, 43% had received training in HPV vaccination promotion or counseling, 47% often/always assess HPV vaccination status, and 59% often/always recommend HPV vaccination. Compared with HCPs who received no training, those who received training had over four times higher odds (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.32; 95% CI: 3.06-6.10) of often/always assessing HPV vaccination status and over three and half times higher odds (AOR: 3.66; 95% CI: 2.73-4.90) of often/always recommending HPV vaccination. Furthermore, HCPs who recently received HPV vaccination training had higher odds of HPV vaccination status assessment and recommendations than those without training. Hispanic HCPs had higher odds of often/always assessing HPV vaccination status and recommending vaccination than did non-Hispanic White HCPs. Also, nurses and physician assistants had lower odds of often/always assessing HPV vaccination status and recommending HPV vaccination than did physicians. Targeted and continuous training of HCPs in HPV vaccination promotion or counseling is needed to increase HPV vaccination status assessment, recommendation, and uptake rates.

HPV Vaccination Training of Healthcare Providers and Perceived Self-Efficacy in HPV Vaccine-Hesitancy Counseling

HPV vaccine hesitancy is a key barrier to HPV vaccination. Using a population-based survey of HCPs practicing in Texas we determined the association between formal training of HCPs and perceived self-efficacy in counseling HPV vaccine-hesitant parents and adult patients. A total of 1283 HCPs completed the survey, with 879 providing vaccination services to pediatric patients and 1018 providing vaccination services to adult patients. Among HCPs included in this study, 405 of 577 (70%) and 315 of 505 (62%) perceived they were very/completely confident in counseling HPV vaccine-hesitant parents and adult patients, respectively. Compared to HCPs who received no training, those who received formal training in HPV vaccination promotion or counseling had 2.56 (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI:1.69-3.86) and 2.84 times higher odds (AOR: 2.84; 95% CI:1.87-4.33) of perceiving that they were very/completely confident in counseling HPV vaccine-hesitant parents and adult patients, respectively. Additionally, increasing years of practice and volume of patients seen were positively associated with being very/completely confident in counseling HPV vaccine-hesitant parents and adult patients. On the other hand, nurses were less likely than physicians to be very/completely confident in counseling HPV vaccine-hesitant parents. To increase HPV vaccination uptake, HCPs should receive tailored training to improve their self-efficacy in addressing HPV vaccine-hesitancy.

Self-reported vaccination-related behavior patterns among healthcare workers and the association with self-directed learning frequency: A nationwide cross-sectional survey

Background

Healthcare workers play an essential role in improving the public's vaccination uptake, but the full picture of such workers' engagement in vaccination-related behaviors has not been appropriately identified. According to the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change, self-directed learning may be a promising intervention for fostering engagement in vaccination-related behaviors, but the association between self-directed learning and such behaviors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine Chinese healthcare workers' level of engagement in behaviors for combatting vaccine-preventable diseases and assess the association between frequency of performing vaccine-focused SDL and engagement in vaccination-related behaviors.

Materials and methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 27 to February 21, 2022, using the survey platform "wjx." Respondents were restricted to healthcare workers aged 18-65 years. A Sankey diagram and bar plots were constructed to determine patterns of engagement in a vaccination-related-behavior chain. Unconditional binary logistic regression models were fitted to determine the association between frequency of performing vaccine-focused self-directed learning and engagement in vaccination-related behaviors.

Results

Of the 2,248 survey respondents, data for 2,065 were analyzed. Participants who had received influenza or pneumococcal vaccination, routinely recommended vaccination to patients, tracked patients' vaccination status, and recommended efficiently accounted for 43.2%, 50.8%, 40.3%, and 36.4% of the total participants, respectively. When only considering those who routinely made such recommendations, the proportion of those who performed tracking and efficient recommendation was 28.8% and 26.2%, respectively. When compared to performing self-directed learning "never to less than once/six months," performing self-directed learning "more than once/week" was positively associated with being vaccinated (OR, 95% CI: 2.30, 1.74-3.03), routinely recommending vaccination (OR, 95% CI: 4.46, 3.30-6.04), and tracking the status of patients so recommended (OR, 95% CI: 6.18, 4.35-8.76).

Conclusions

Chinese healthcare workers' pattern of engagement in vaccination-related behaviors must be improved. Higher frequencies of engagement in self-directed learning are associated with more active engagement in vaccination-related behaviors, meaning raising such frequencies could be a promising intervention for fostering behavior changes in this regard and ultimately increasing vaccination coverage.

Awareness, perceptions, and choices of physicians pertaining to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in India: A formative research study

Introduction

India accounts for one-fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer cases and mortality. A safe and effective vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, the primary cause of cervical malignancies, is available in India but multiple barriers lead to its low uptake in the country. Physicians are a key stakeholder and communicator in the Indian health system and have the potential to increase HPV vaccine uptake.

Objective

We undertook formative research to understand awareness, perceptions and choices of physicians when recommending the HPV vaccine to parents of adolescent girls.

Methods

We conducted in-depth interviews with 32 physicians in two districts of West Bengal. Data collection was carried out between July and August 2019. The data was transcribed, coded, and analyzed using NVivo software using the thematic analysis technique.

Results

Our findings suggest that while physicians are generally aware about the burden of cervical cancer and its prevention by HPV vaccination, they face several barriers to recommending the HPV vaccine routinely and strongly. These include the lack of national-level guidance on the age eligibility and dosage, lack of practice-level opportunities such as well or non-sick visits and other routine adolescent vaccines, practice-level barriers like out-of-pocket cost and vaccine availability, and perceived parental hesitancy arising from reluctance to discuss cervical cancer, its prevention, and HPV vaccination.

Conclusions

Physicians in our study exhibited hesitancy when recommending the HPV vaccine. They also faced logistical barriers. It is important that the barriers pertaining to when and how physicians recommend the vaccine be tackled through further education, policy change, and development and implementation of interventions that are evidenced-based.

Knowledge and attitude towards human papillomavirus and its vaccination and affecting factors among nursing and medical students: a questionnaire study

The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), HPV testing and HPV vaccinations and affecting factors among nursing and medical students and explore their attitudes regarding HPV vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 635 undergraduate nursing and medical students from March to June 2020 at a state university in Turkey. The data were collected using the Questionnaire Form and HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS). The HPV-KS mean scores of the students were 17.07 ± 6.95. The students were aged 26 and over, females, had good economic status, registered at the faculty of medicine, at higher year of studies, had sexual experience and recommended HPV vaccination got higher knowledge scores regarding HPV, HPV testing and HPV vaccination (p ˂ .05). Despite low vaccination rate (2.0%), almost all the students recommended the HPV vaccine (95.9%). Sex, place of residence, faculty (departments), and year of study are among the significant predictor of knowledge about HPV, HPV testing and HPV vaccinations level up to 39% (p ˂ .05). This study highlights the need for further education and training are required to increase the knowledge about HPV, HPV testing and HPV vaccination, which may help increase awareness and improve the ratio of vaccination.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and most likely to cause cervical cancer. Prophylactic vaccine administrations is critical in primary protection from HPV.What the results of this study add? The study revealed the needs for education among nursing and medical students about HPV, HPV testing and HPV vaccines. Knowledge regarding HPV, HPV testing and HPV vaccines is statistically significantly associated with age, sex, economic status, place of residence, faculty, year of study, sexual experience and recommending HPV vaccines. Sex, place of residence, faculty, and year of study are among the statistically significant positive predictors for HPV knowledge.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Educators should increase education and/or training opportunities related to HPV among nursing and medical students who are the future healthcare providers and in the risky group for HPV during undergraduate education.

Social Media Perceptions and Internet Verification Skills Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Decision-Making Among Parents of Children and Adolescents: Cross-sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for children aged 11-12 years in the United States. One factor that may contribute to low national HPV vaccine uptake is parental exposure to misinformation on social media.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association between parents' perceptions of the HPV vaccine information on social media and internet verification strategies used with the HPV vaccine decision-making stage for their child.

METHODS

Parents of children and adolescents aged 9-17 years were recruited for a cross-sectional survey in North Texas (n=1192) and classified into 3 groups: children and adolescents who (1) were vaccinated, (2) unvaccinated and did not want the vaccine, and (3) unvaccinated and wanted the vaccine. Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to identify factors associated with the HPV vaccine decision-making stage with children and adolescents who were vaccinated as the referent group.

RESULTS

Of the 1192 respondents, 44.7% (n=533) had an HPV-vaccinated child, 38.8% (n=463) had an unvaccinated child and did not want the vaccine, and 16.4% (n=196) had an unvaccinated child and wanted the vaccine. Respondents were less likely to be "undecided/not wanting the vaccine" if they agreed that HPV information on social media is credible (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.40, 95% CI 0.26-0.60; P=.001), disagreed that social media makes them question the HPV vaccine (aOR 0.22, 95% CI 0.15-0.33; P<.001), or had a higher internet verification score (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.88; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions that promote web-based health literacy skills are needed so parents can protect their families from misinformation and make informed health care decisions.

Leveraging teachable moments in cancer prevention by improving HPV vaccination in health professional students (HPS): A systematic review

Introduction

Vaccination against HPV is safe and effective in cancer prevention, yet vaccination uptake remains low. Strong recommendation of HPV vaccination by healthcare providers increases immunization rates, but gaps in knowledge persist surrounding HPV and HPV vaccination amongst health professional students (HPS). It is critical to educate HPS in all professions to maximize vaccination opportunities and increase vaccine uptake. The objective of this study is to evaluate evidence on HPV knowledge, vaccine uptake, and educational interventions in HPS to identify specific deficits to improve education.

Methods

A systematic literature search for articles on HPV vaccine uptake, knowledge, and educational interventions in HPS was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus from January 1, 2006 – July 21, 2021. Included studies assessed HPS for HPV vaccine uptake, knowledge, counseling comfort, or educational interventions to increase HPV vaccine knowledge. Studies were screened for inclusion by 2 independent reviewers and evaluated for risk of bias. PRISMA guidelines for reporting were followed.

Results

Twenty-one unique articles met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Of the studies included, 20 included knowledge, 11 included vaccine uptake, 8 included interventions, and 12 included counseling comfort. The students in the studies included medical (n=14), dental (n=7), dental hygiene (n=6), nursing (n=3), physician assistant (n=2), public health (n=1), and pharmacy (n=1). Across studies, HPV vaccine series initiation ranged from 34.6-70.3%, with 28.3-58.3% up to date on vaccination. Most students knew that HPV causes cervical cancer (99%), but fewer knew that HPV causes head and neck cancer (40-47%) and oropharyngeal cancer (45%). Educational interventions included team-based approaches and lectures, and improved outcomes including vaccine knowledge, vaccination schedule, and cancer knowledge. Medical students with lower knowledge of HPV were more hesitant to recommend vaccination at baseline but were more likely to recommend vaccination after an education session.

Discussion

Across HPS, inadequacies persist in HPV vaccine uptake, knowledge, and counseling comfort. It is critical to target vaccine uptake in this population and improve existing educational efforts to reduce preventable cancers. Institutions must prioritize HPV vaccine education to impact HPV related death.

Continuing education programme on vaccines for primary healthcare professionals: mixed-method protocol

INTRODUCTION

Vaccination is a fundamental intervention in disease prevention; therefore, the advice and recommendations of health professionals have a major influence on the population's decision to be vaccinated or not. Professionals must have sufficient competencies to carry out their work and recommend vaccination with evidence-based knowledge. The aim is to design and validate a strategy to improve professional competencies in vaccination to positively influence adherence and increase vaccination rates in the population.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Training will be designed based on evidence and previous studies and piloted with healthcare providers. To test changes in knowledge, a pretest and post-test will be conducted. To test feasibility, a think-aloud method will be used with participants and triangulated with focus groups using SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Transfer will be measured using the questionnaire 'factors for the indirect evaluation of transfer' and an efficacy questionnaire 1½ months later; for satisfaction, an ad hoc questionnaire will be used. A summative approach will be used for the analysis of the focus groups and descriptive and bivariate statistics for the questionnaires.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the Andalusian Research Ethics Committee, Spain (approval number: 0524-N-20). The results will be made available to the public at journal publications and scientific conferences.

Interventions to Improve Immunization Coverage Among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Vaccinations are recognized as a feasible, cost-effective public health intervention for reducing the burden and associated mortality of many infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of potential interventions to improve the uptake of vaccines among children and adolescents.

METHODS

We performed a literature search until December 2020. Eligible studies were identified using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PubMed, and other sources. We included studies conducted on children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. Studies comprised of hospitalized children and those with comorbid conditions were excluded. Two authors independently performed the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Findings from 120 studies (123 articles), of which 95 were meta-analyzed, reveal that vaccination education may increase overall vaccination coverage by 19% (risk ratio [RR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.26), reminders by 15% (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11-1.18), interventions for providers by 13% (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19), financial incentives by 67% (RR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.40-1.99), and multilevel interventions by 25% (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10-1.41). The impact of school-based clinics and policy and legislation on overall vaccination coverage is still uncertain, and no impact of a multicomponent intervention on overall vaccination coverage was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Educational interventions, reminders, provider-directed interventions, financial incentives, and multilevel interventions may improve vaccination coverage among school-aged children and adolescents.

"Everyone in our community should be informed about the HPV vaccine": Latinx mothers' suggested strategies to promote the human papillomavirus vaccine

PURPOSE

Parents play a critical decision-making role in vaccinating their children against HPV, and mothers, in particular, are key stakeholders as they are often the parent taking their children to healthcare visits. Given the importance of the HPV vaccination as a cancer prevention strategy, this study was designed to explore Latinx mothers' suggested strategies to promote vaccine uptake among Latinx parents.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Community-based in Massachusetts, United States, and Latinx mothers.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Descriptive qualitative research employing individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a hybrid method of thematic analysis incorporating deductive and inductive approaches.

RESULTS

Twenty-two, majority foreign-born (91%) Latinx mothers of adolescent girls (∼60%) and boys (∼40%) aged 11-19 years participated. Mothers suggested several strategies to promote uptake of the HPV vaccine among Latinx families including healthcare providers' increased communication and anticipatory guidance addressing factors influencing parents' HPV vaccination hesitancy, and improved community-wide dissemination of culturally and linguistically relevant information targeting not only parents of age-eligible participants but the broader community. Finally, mothers suggested the use of social media using personal narratives and an enhanced active role of schools in providing accurate information to raise awareness and educate adolescents and parents about the importance of HPV vaccination.

CONCLUSION

Findings are relevant to the development of tailored interventions to meet the needs of Latinx populations, and ultimately increase Latinx children's HPV vaccination rates.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination across a cascade of knowledge, willingness, and uptake among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Canada's three largest cities

BACKGROUND

Some Canadian jurisdictions offer publicly funded HPV vaccine to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) aged ≤26 years. We characterized factors associated with being in different stages of HPV vaccination.

METHODS

Engage is a sexual health study of GBM in the three largest Canadian cities recruited via respondent driven sampling (RDS). We categorized participants as: (1) unaware of HPV vaccine, (2) undecided/unwilling to get vaccinated, (3) willing to get vaccinated, (4) vaccinated with one or more doses. Our RDS-II weighted analyses used multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with being in earlier stages of the cascade compared to Stage 4.

RESULTS

Across the cities, 26-40%, 7-14%, 33-39%, and 13-28% were in Stages 1 to 4, respectively. Compared to Stage 4, being in earlier stages of the cascade was associated with bisexual-identification (Stage 1: adjusted odds ratio[aOR] = 2.84, 95% confidence interval[CI] = 1.06-7.62; Stage 2: aOR = 3.09, 95%CI = 1.19-8.05), having immigrated to Canada (Stage 1: aOR = 1.79, 95%CI 1.07-2.99), preference to keep same-sex romantic relationships private (Stage 1: aOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.05-1.48; Stage 2: aOR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.05-1.46), not receiving sexual health information (Stage 1: aOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.13-0.71; Stage 2: aOR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.12-0.64), not accessing a health-care provider (Stage 2: aOR = 0.36, 95%CI = 0.15-0.83), and no past hepatitis A/B vaccination (Stage 1: aOR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.09-0.30; Stage 2: aOR = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.09-0.35; Stage 3: aOR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.21-0.61).

DISCUSSION

Interventions are needed to reduce social and financial barriers, increase sexual health knowledge, and improve GBM-competent health-care access to increase vaccine uptake among GBM.

Provider perspectives on communication and dismissal policies with HPV vaccine hesitant parents

Parental vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern. Less is known about provider or practice characteristics that encounter HPV-specific vaccine-hesitant parents, the providers' confidence in responding to HPV vaccine concerns, and the attitudes and use of vaccine dismissal policies (i.e., removing patients from the practice). North Texas providers completed an online survey. Dependent variables assessed: (1) percentage of HPV vaccine-hesitant parents encountered in practice defined as substantive, or high (≥11%, or among more than one out of ten adolescent patient encounters) versus low (≤10%) levels; (2) confidence in responding to 11 HPV vaccine concerns; (3) attitudes and use of vaccine dismissal policies. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were conducted. Among 156 providers, 29% reported high HPV vaccine hesitancy (≥11% of patient population). Overall, providers reported being "very confident" in addressing vaccine concerns (mean: 3.37 out of 4, SD: 0.57). Mean confidence scores were significantly higher for white (vs. non-white) providers and for pediatricians (vs. family practitioners). Providers were least confident in responding to parents' religious/personal beliefs (69%). Some providers (25%) agreed with policies that dismissed vaccine-hesitant parents after repeated counseling attempts. More providers used dismissal policies for childhood (19%) than adolescent (10%) immunizations. Provider communication training should include parental religious/personal beliefs to effectively address HPV vaccine hesitancy. Other regions should examine their HPV-specific vaccine hesitancy levels to understand how the use of dismissal policies might vary between adolescent and childhood immunizations.