A human papillomavirus vaccination program for low-income postpartum women

Immunogenicity of 2-Dose HPV Vaccine Series for Postpartum Women: An Open-Label, Nonrandomized, Noninferiority Trial

Importance

Postpartum human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a promising strategy to increase HPV vaccination uptake in the US, particularly for reaching vaccine-naive women and those who lack health insurance beyond the pregnancy period. However, completion of the 3-dose vaccine regimen is challenging.

Objective

To evaluate the immunogenicity of a 2-dose postpartum HPV vaccination regimen (0 and 6 months) and assess whether it is noninferior to a 3-dose postpartum HPV vaccination regimen (0, 1-2, and 6 months) administered to historical controls.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A noninferiority, open-label, nonrandomized immunogenicity trial was conducted from August 4, 2020, to June 23, 2022, of postpartum patients aged 15 to 45 years who delivered at 2 hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland. Historical controls were adolescents and young women aged 16 to 26 years.

Intervention

Two doses of the nonavalent HPV vaccine administered 6 months apart.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was noninferiority (90% CI, lower bound >0.67) of the geometric mean titer (GMT) ratio for HPV-16 among postpartum women compared with historical controls. Secondary outcomes were noninferiority of GMT ratios for the other 8 HPV types and percentage seroconversion for each HPV type. As a noninferiority trial, the primary analysis used the per-protocol analysis.

Results

Of 225 enrolled participants, the mean (SD) age at baseline was 29.9 (6.8) years, and 171 (76.0%) were HPV-16 seronegative at baseline. Of these 171 participants, 129 (75.4%) received a second vaccine dose and completed the subsequent 4-week serologic measurements. Relative to historical controls, the HPV-16 GMT ratio was 2.29 (90% CI, 2.03-2.58). At month 7, HPV-16 GMT was higher after the 2-dose regimen (7213.1 mMU/mL [90% CI, 6245.0-8331.4 mMU/mL]) than among historic controls after the 3-dose regimen (3154.0 mMU/mL [90% CI, 2860.2-3478.0 mMU/mL]). Similarly, the lower bound of the 90% CI of the GMT ratio was above 1 for the 8 HPV types 6, 11, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. A total of 118 of 134 women (88.1%) seroconverted for HPV-16 after the first dose; 4 weeks after the second dose, the seroconversion rate was 99% or greater for all HPV types.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study suggests that immunogenicity of a 2-dose HPV vaccination regimen given 6 months apart among postpartum women was noninferior to a 3-dose regimen among young historical controls. Most women seroconverted after the first dose of the 2-dose regimen. These results demonstrate that postpartum vaccination using a reduced schedule may be a promising strategy to increase HPV vaccine series completion.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04274153.

Behavioral interventions for vaccination uptake: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Human behavior and more specifically behavioral insight-based approaches to vaccine uptake have often been overlooked. While there have been a few narrative reviews indexed in Medline on behavioral interventions to increase vaccine uptake, to our knowledge, none have been systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering not just high but also low-and-middle income countries.

METHODS

We included 613 studies from the Medline database in our systematic review and meta-analysis categorizing different behavioral interventions in 9 domains: education campaigns, on-site vaccination, incentives, free vaccination, institutional recommendation, provider recommendation, reminder and recall, message framing, and vaccine champion. Additionally, considering that there is variability in the acceptance of vaccines among different populations, we assessed studies from both high-income countries (HICs) and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), separately.

FINDINGS

Our results showed that behavioral interventions can considerably improve vaccine uptake in most settings. All domains that we examined improved vaccine uptake with the highest effect size associated with provider recommendation (OR: 3.4 (95%CI: 2.5-4.6); Domain: motivation) and on-site vaccination (OR: 2.9 (95%CI: 2.3-3.7); Domain: practical issues). While the number of studies conducted in LMICs was smaller, the quality of studies was similar with those conducted in HICs. Nevertheless, there were variations in the observed effect sizes.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings indicate that "provider recommendation" and "on-site vaccination" along with other behavioral interventions can be employed to increase vaccination rates globally.

Human Papillomavirus Inpatient Postpartum Vaccination: Clinical Guideline Implementation

OBJECTIVE

The nine-valent human papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccine is highly effective at preventing cervical cancer, yet U.S. vaccination rates remain low. The objective of this study was to evaluate integration of 9vHPV inpatient vaccination into routine postpartum care.

METHODS

Obstetrics professionals at an academic urban referral center received an emailed protocol outlining a novel 9vHPV vaccination program of postpartum inpatients aged 26 years or younger. A retrospective evaluation from March 2021 to March 2022 was conducted to evaluate implementation. Characteristics of patients vaccinated before pregnancy compared with vaccine-eligible patients (none, unknown, or partially vaccinated status) were compared by the use of χ2, analysis of variance, and multivariable logistic regression. Similarly, analyses were performed comparing vaccine-eligible patients who did with those who did not receive an inpatient 9vHPV vaccination.

RESULTS

Of 569 postpartum inpatients, 370 (65.0%) were already vaccinated, 70 (34.2%) were never vaccinated, 49 (24.6%) were partially vaccinated, and 80 (14.1%) had unknown status. Of vaccine-eligible patients, 46 (23.1%) received 9vHPV vaccination as an inpatient. In multivariable analysis, race and ethnicity, marital status, and primary language were significant predictors of vaccination before pregnancy. Among vaccine-eligible patients, inpatient vaccination recipients were primarily Hispanic, Spanish speaking, and publicly insured. In multivariable analysis of vaccine-eligible patients, receiving care from the certified nurse midwifery practice was the only independent predictor of vaccination (odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.02-5.74, P=.04).

CONCLUSION

Non-Hispanic White, Spanish-speaking, and married patients were disproportionally undervaccinated in our baseline population, but about one quarter of vaccine-eligible patients received 9vHPV vaccination postpartum. Inpatient postpartum 9vHPV vaccination may help narrow disparities in vaccination.

A systematic review of interventions to promote HPV vaccination globally

BACKGROUND

Despite the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine being a safe, effective cancer prevention method, its uptake is suboptimal in the United States (U.S.). Previous research has found a variety of intervention strategies (environmental and behavioral) to increase its uptake. The purpose of the study is to systematically review the literature on interventions that promote HPV vaccination from 2015 to 2020.

METHODS

We updated a systematic review of interventions to promote HPV vaccine uptake globally. We ran keyword searches in six bibliographic databases. Target audience, design, level of intervention, components and outcomes were abstracted from the full-text articles in Excel databases.

RESULTS

Of the 79 articles, most were conducted in the U.S. (72.2%) and in clinical (40.5%) or school settings (32.9%), and were directed at a single level (76.3%) of the socio-ecological model. Related to the intervention type, most were informational (n = 25, 31.6%) or patient-targeted decision support (n = 23, 29.1%). About 24% were multi-level interventions, with 16 (88.9%) combining two levels. Twenty-seven (33.8%) reported using theory in intervention development. Of those reporting HPV vaccine outcomes, post-intervention vaccine initiation ranged from 5% to 99.2%, while series completion ranged from 6.8% to 93.0%. Facilitators to implementation were the use of patient navigators and user-friendly resources, while barriers included costs, time to implement and difficulties of integrating interventions into the organizational workflow.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong need to expand the implementation of HPV-vaccine promotion interventions beyond education alone and at a single level of intervention. Development and evaluation of effective strategies and multi-level interventions may increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine among adolescents and young adults.

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy for Future COVID-19 and HIV Vaccines: Lessons from Measles and HPV Vaccines

BACKGROUND

The discovery of vaccines significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases and led to the elimination and eradication of some. Development of safe and effective vaccines is a critical step to the control of infectious diseases; however, there is the need to address vaccine hesitancy because of its potential impact on vaccine uptake.

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review of studies on interventions to address measles and human papillomavirus vaccine hesitancy. We discussed how lessons learned from these studies could be applied towards COVID-19 and future human immunodeficiency virus vaccines.

RESULTS

We found that there are several successful approaches to improving vaccine acceptance. Interventions should be context specific and build on the challenges highlighted in various settings.

CONCLUSION

Strategies could be used alone or in combination with others. The most successful interventions directly targeted the population for vaccination. Use of financial incentives could be a potential tool to improve vaccine uptake.

How scheduling systems with automated appointment reminders improve health clinic efficiency

Missed clinic appointments or no-shows burden health care systems through inefficient use of staff time and resources. Scheduling software with automatic appointment reminders shows promise to improve clinics' management through timely cancellations and re-scheduling, but at-scale evidence is missing. We study a nationwide text message appointment reminder program in Chile implemented at primary care clinics for patients with chronic disease. Using longitudinal clinic-level data, we find that the program did not change the number of visits by chronic patients eligible to receive the reminder but visits from other patients ineligible to receive reminders increased by 5.0% in the first year and 7.4% in the second. Clinics treating more chronic patients and those with a relatively younger patient population benefited more from the program. Scheduling systems with automatic appointment reminders were effective in increasing clinics' ability to care for more patients, likely due to timely cancellations and re-scheduling.

Acceptance of HPV vaccination at the abortion visit at a clinic in New York City in 2017 to 2018

OBJECTIVES

Human Papillomavirus vaccination remains a public health concern. Our primary objective was to examine whether eligible people, in an underimmunized population, seeking abortion find the abortion visit an acceptable opportunity to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Our secondary objectives include comparing vaccine acceptors to vaccine decliners on knowledge and attitudinal factors related to the HPV vaccine.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross sectional study in which we offered free HPV vaccine series initiation and completion to eligible patients presenting for abortion services at an outpatient health center. We administered surveys to both vaccine acceptors and decliners, to assess utilization of health services, knowledge of the HPV vaccine, and reasons for not having initiated or completed the vaccine series previously.

RESULTS

101 study participants were offered HPV vaccination; 50 participants accepted and 51 participants declined. All participants completed the survey. Seven of fifty vaccine acceptors completed the vaccine series. Vaccine acceptance was associated with new knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer. (acceptors = 72.0%, decliners = 52.9%, p = 0.05) The most common reason among both groups for not previously initiating the vaccine was "No one offered it to me" (acceptors = 58.0%, decliners = 53.5%, p = 0.46). A considerable number of participants had not previously heard of the HPV vaccine, 44% of those who accepted, and 35.3% of those who declined (p = 0.64) vaccination at the time of their abortion.

CONCLUSION

The abortion visit offers an important opportunity to start or to finish the HPV vaccine series. Most patients are receptive to receiving additional services and were never previously offered the HPV vaccine. Practices and policies aimed at utilizing missed opportunities for HPV vaccine catch up can increase HPV vaccine prevalence among young adult women to reduce lifetime risk for cervical cancer.

IMPLICATIONS

The abortion visit may be an opportunity for HPV vaccination catch up in an underimmunized population. Abortion providers may consider offering patients other preventive health care services.

Postpartum HPV Vaccination Rate and Differences in Background Characteristics Between HPV Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Postpartum Women: Strict Monitoring and Follow-Up of Postpartum HPV Vaccination Program

There is a need to increase the vaccine completion rates in women who have already received human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. With vaccines requiring multiple doses, designing a vaccination control program and increasing the proportion of women who complete vaccination are critical and remain as huge challenges. Currently, there are no published reports on the differences in the background characteristics between postpartum women who are vaccinated or unvaccinated against HPV. This study aimed to determine the vaccination rates of the second and third doses of HPV vaccination utilizing an achievable HPV vaccination program in postpartum women. In this retrospective study, 243 postpartum women attending Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between March and September 2014 were enrolled. These women were classified into two groups: one group received the HPV vaccine under a practical, controlled postpartum HPV vaccination program, and the other group did not. The rates for the second and third rounds of HPV vaccination in postpartum women were calculated. The differences in the background characteristics between the two groups were determined using the Student’s t test, chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, and the multiple logistic models, as appropriate. Under the controlled postpartum HPV vaccination program, the completion rate for the three doses of postpartum HPV vaccination was 97.2%. Significant differences were observed according to maternal age, gender of the newborn, and postpartum Pap smear results between the two groups in our study. In conclusion, the controlled postpartum HPV vaccination program is a reasonable method for achieving an excellent completion rate for the three doses of postpartum HPV vaccination and may be a good model for any multiple-dose vaccination protocol.

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of an all-inclusive postpartum human papillomavirus vaccination program

BACKGROUND

A postpartum human papillomavirus vaccination program was locally implemented to address low initiation rates among young adults. Within 20 months, the program achieved high vaccine initiation and series completion rates. Based on the program's success, it was expanded to all 36 counties served by a public hospital.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to conduct a quantitative and qualitative evaluation to examine the success and limitations of the program when expanded from 1 county to 36 counties, many of which are home to rural and medically underserved communities.

STUDY DESIGN

Patient navigators reviewed the electronic medical records and immunization registry records of women aged ≤26 years, who delivered an infant at the public hospital, to determine whether they needed to initiate or complete the human papillomavirus vaccine series. Eligible women were counseled and offered the human papillomavirus vaccine during their hospital stay. Patient navigators scheduled follow-up injections in addition to the mother's postpartum or her infant's well-child visits, made reminder phone calls, and rescheduled missed appointments. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and proportions, were used for patients approached in the initial and expansion programs. Frequencies from the initial and expansion programs were examined separately. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the clinic staff to evaluate the program. The qualitative analyses were conducted using NVivo (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia, version 10).

RESULTS

Both initial and expanded programs achieved vaccine completion rates above 70%. Of the 2631 eligible postpartum women enrolled in the initial program, 785 (30%) had already been fully vaccinated. Of the remaining 1846 women, 1265 (69%) women received their first dose, and 196 (11%) women received their second or third dose on the postpartum unit. Of the 1461 women who received at least 1 dose through the initial program, 1124 (77%) completed all 3 doses. Of the 4330 eligible postpartum women enrolled in the expanded program, 886 (21%) had already been fully vaccinated. Of the remaining 3444 women, 2284 (66%) received their first dose, and 343 (10%) received their second or third dose on the postpartum unit. Of the 2627 women receiving at least 1 dose through the expanded program, 1932 (74%) completed all 3 doses. Clinic staff interviewed felt the program benefited the postpartum unit and clinics, because it increased patient knowledge of the vaccine, increased patient volume for vaccination, and gave healthcare providers more time to focus on other tasks.

CONCLUSION

Human papillomavirus vaccination on the postpartum unit is an effective way to increase catchup rates and is well accepted by healthcare providers. High completion rates can be achieved if adequate support is provided, even among patients residing in rural or underserved areas who need extensive support to access primary healthcare services. Although this particular program may be considered costly, it is overall effective because the vaccine prevents 5 different types of cancer in women. The inclusion of human papillomavirus vaccination in routine postpartum care is a relatively easy way to reach many adults not vaccinated at a younger age and could help address low vaccination rates among young women in the United States, including hard-to-reach populations.

The Contribution of Reminder-Recall to Vaccine Delivery Efforts: A Narrative Review

Reminders, alerting patients to the need for vaccines that will be due in the future, and recall messages, informing patients about vaccines that are overdue, have been shown to improve immunization rates for children and adolescents in numerous systematic reviews. Therefore, reminder and recall interventions (R/R) are recommended by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services for increasing immunization rates on the basis of strong evidence. R/R messages can be delivered by mail (letter or postcard), via personal or auto-dialer phone calls, by text or e-mail or via patient-portals and can simply be alerts to action or can include educational material with the aim of motivating patients to seek vaccination. R/R has also been shown to be a relatively low-cost intervention with high cost-effectiveness compared with other recommended strategies. However, although R/R as a strategy is consistently effective and cost-effective overall, there is wide variation in the impact of R/R by 1) modality of how it is delivered, 2) the targeted vaccine, 3) the age group, and 4) whether the R/R is conducted centrally by a health system or Immunization Information System or by individual practices. This narrative review summarizes the literature about effectiveness of R/R within each of these categories. We also discuss limitations of R/R, with a focus on the potential impact of parental vaccine hesitancy in blunting its effectiveness and problems with data integrity, on which R/R relies. We also discuss challenges to sustaining R/R efforts, including potential methods of funding for R/R efforts.

Inpatient Immunization With HPV Vaccine: A Qualitative Study With Postpartum Women

INTRODUCTION

Rates of immunization with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent and young adult females remain suboptimal. There is a continued need to focus on catch-up immunization. Some hospitals in the United States have implemented inpatient postpartum HPV immunization programs (IPP-HPV) as part of a strategy to improve rates of catch-up immunization. Patients' perspectives are critical to facilitating broad adoption of IPP-HPV. The objectives of this study were to understand the experiences and perspectives of postpartum women recommended to receive HPV vaccine before hospital discharge and to identify facilitators of and barriers to program implementation.

METHODS

We conducted in-depth semistructured interviews with postpartum women eligible for IPP-HPV. We used purposive sampling to ensure representation across race, ethnicity, and language. Interviews were analyzed using an iterative thematic approach.

RESULTS

The median age of participants (n = 24) was 22 years (range, 15-26 years), and six had declined the inpatient dose of HPV vaccine. Overall, women viewed IPP-HPV favorably. Facilitators of program implementation included viewing HPV vaccine as prevention, normalization of the vaccine, convenience of IPP-HPV, and the experience of a patient-centered approach. Barriers included the peripartum environment and associated stress, vaccine hesitancy, and a lack of both awareness of and knowledge about HPV vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS

IPP-HPV immunization is a strategy well-received by women for improving rates of catch-up immunization. The implementation of such programs may be optimized by increasing awareness that the vaccine is available and recommended for postpartum women, and by using a patient-centered approach that is sensitive to the needs of postpartum patients.

Evaluation of an Inpatient Postpartum Human Papillomavirus Immunization Program

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the result of an inpatient postpartum human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization pilot program in a diverse, low-income patient population from an urban, hospital-based obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

METHODS

In this cohort study, we present results from the first 2 years of the inpatient postpartum HPV immunization program, in which vaccine-eligible postpartum women were identified and immunized during their hospital stays. The program was implemented after educational outreach with prenatal and postpartum clinicians and nurses. Associations between receipt of the HPV vaccine as an inpatient and the characteristics of patients, and the likelihood of and missed opportunities for receiving a subsequent dose of the HPV vaccine as an outpatient were determined using logistic regression, time-to-event analyses, chi-squared tests and t-tests.

RESULTS

From April 11, 2017, to April 10, 2019, 394 (59.2%) of 666 postpartum women were eligible for the inpatient postpartum HPV immunization program. The majority (265/394, 67.3%) received the immunization pilot program HPV dose; 36 of those 265 (13.6%) completed the series with that dose. Among women due for additional doses after hospital discharge, those who received the inpatient dose were more likely to receive a subsequent outpatient dose (138/229) than were those who did not receive an inpatient dose (39/129; hazard ratio 2.51, 95% CI 1.76-3.58). On average, there were 30.7 fewer (95% CI 5.8-55.6, P<.02) missed opportunities for subsequent outpatient doses for every 100 eligible visits among women who received the inpatient dose, compared with women who did not. By the end of the study, the proportion of women who had completed the vaccine series was higher among women who received the inpatient dose (95/265, 35.8%) than in those who did not (12 out 129, 9.3%; odds ratio 5.45, 95% CI 2.86-10.38).

CONCLUSION

The inpatient postpartum HPV immunization program was associated with increased rates of immunization and addressed a previously missed opportunity. Inpatient immunization programs can serve as a critical way to address gaps in vaccine uptake.

Use of patient navigators to increase HPV vaccination rates in a pediatric clinical population

A patient navigator (PN) program was implemented in pediatric clinics to increase uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of this program. All visits between April 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017 for 9-17 year old patients at 3 program and 5 non-program clinics were examined using electronic medical records. These dates included patient visits before and after program initiation (February 1, 2015). Visits including 1 dose of the HPV vaccine were assessed as a proportion of total visits for each month. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to examine the odds of HPV vaccination across time, between program and non-program clinics, and age group. A total of 128,051 visits by 21,395 patients were examined. HPV vaccines were administered during 12,742 visits (10.0%). Odds of HPV vaccination during visits by 13-17 year olds was greater than during visits by 9-12 year olds in the pre-intervention period (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.19). However, this association changed during the intervention period, with odds of HPV vaccination among visits by 13-17 year olds lower compared to visits by 9-12 year olds (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.75-0.82). The odds of HPV vaccination were elevated among 9-12 year olds in program clinics as compared to 2014, the year before the program was implemented. Having on-site PNs can increase the frequency of HPV vaccination in pediatric clinics, particularly among patients 9-12 years of age.

Success of an EMR-Driven Postpartum Intervention to Improve HPV Vaccination Rates

Human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) remains low in the United States. The inpatient postpartum setting provides an innovative opportunity to vaccinate eligible patients. This study evaluated two different interventions to improve HPV vaccination rates in hospitalized postpartum patients: a nurse based protocol and an electronic medical record (EMR) postpartum order prompt. This was a comparative intervention study performed in a prospective cohort of postpartum patients at two affiliated County Hospitals. The intervention was conducted over a 6-month period aimed at increasing HPV vaccination rates through a nurse based protocol at one hospital (H-NBP) and an EMR postpartum order prompt at the second hospital (H-EMR). Outcomes measures included vaccine administration, patient refusal, and vaccine wastage. A multiple logistic regression model was used to compare outcomes. At H-NBP, 143 vaccine-eligible patients (74%) were identified of which 44 (32%) received the HPV vaccine, 66 (46%) refused, and 33 (21%) had missed opportunities. At H-EMR, 169 patients (87%) were identified as vaccine-eligible of which 111 (66%) received the HPV4 vaccine, 24 (14%) refused and 34 (20%) had missed opportunities. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, patients at H-EMR were nearly 6 times more likely than patients at H-NBP to undergo postpartum HPV vaccination (OR 5.865, CI 3.358-10.245, p value < 0.0001). An EMR prompt offers a greater impact on HPV vaccination rates than a nursing protocol. The feasibility and success of inpatient postpartum HPV vaccination interventions as demonstrated in this study provides insights on how to approach vaccination strategies in nontraditional clinical settings.

Understanding the use of digital technology to promote human papillomavirus vaccination - A RE-AIM framework approach

The human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine is effective at preventing various cancers, but coverage falls short of targets that are needed for community protection. Here, we use the RE-AIM implementation framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) to understand how text, email, and electronic health record (EHR) reminders and social media campaigns can be used as part of policy and practice interventions to increase HPV vaccination. These technology-based interventions could be used together and mainstreamed into clinical and system-based practice to have the greatest impact. Of the interventions explored, text-based, email-based, and EHR reminders have the most evidence behind them to support their effectiveness. While there are several studies of promotion of the HPV vaccine on social media, more studies are needed to demonstrate their effects and better methods are needed to be able to attribute results to these interventions.

Evaluating the use of text message communication in a postpartum patient navigation program for publicly insured women

OBJECTIVE

To compare communication between navigators and women according to follow-up status in a postpartum patient navigation program ("Navigating New Motherhood" [NNM]).

METHODS

This is a mixed methods secondary analysis of text message and email transcripts from NNM. Transcripts were analyzed by number of messages sent, received, and unanswered. Message themes were qualitatively analyzed using constant comparative technique. Bivariable and multivariable tests were conducted.

RESULTS

Most women (98.2%) communicated with navigators via text message. Women who completed postpartum follow-up sent and received more texts than women who did not (7.8 vs. 3.7, p < 0.001 and 11.5 vs. 8.0, p < 0.05, respectively); exchange of ≥6 messages was associated with greater odds of follow-up (adjusted odds ratio 2.89, 95% CI1.13-7.41). Lack of patient response was also associated with lack of follow-up (p < 0.001). Four categories of message themes were identified: Rapport-building, Postpartum Care Coordination, Maternal Health, and Motherhood. Message threads with more Rapport-building or Maternal Health messages were associated with more frequent patient follow-up (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), as was average number of emoticons per message thread (2.1 vs. 1.2, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

More frequent and multidimensional communication was associated with follow-up in a postpartum patient navigation program.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Text messaging can serve as a favorable communication platform within patient navigation.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Interventions in the U.S.: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Despite current recommendations, human papillomavirus vaccine uptake remains low. A systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of interventions targeting human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and completion among children, adolescents, and young adults aged 9-26 years.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Three electronic databases (CINAHL, OVID, and Web of Science) were searched for articles published in English peer-reviewed journals between January 2006 and January 2017 of U.S. studies that evaluated intervention strategies and reported post-intervention human papillomavirus vaccine initiation or completion rates among individuals aged 9-26 years. Study characteristics and outcomes were extracted. Data were collected in 2016 and analyzed in 2017.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Reviewers screened 983 unique titles and abstracts, read 241 full-text articles, and extracted data from 30 articles meeting the inclusion criteria (12 behavioral, ten environmental, four informational, and four combination strategies). Published EQUATOR (Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research) guidelines were used to assess study quality. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted. The meta-analyses included 17 RCTs and quasi-experiments involving 68,623 children, adolescents, and young adults. The pooled relative incidence estimates were 1.84 (95% CI=1.36, 2.48) for human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and 1.50 (95% CI=1.23, 1.83) for completion. Behavioral and informational interventions doubled human papillomavirus vaccine initiation (relative incidence estimate=2.04, 95% CI=1.36, 3.06 and relative incidence estimate=1.92, 95% CI=1.27, 2.91, respectively). Behavioral interventions increased completion by 68% (relative incidence estimate=1.68, 95% CI=1.25, 2.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence supports behavioral interventions for increasing human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and completion. Future studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of interventions in reaching diverse populations and reducing missed opportunities for human papillomavirus vaccination.

Using text message reminders in health care services: A narrative literature review

INTRODUCTION

Despite the extensive use of mHealth behavior change interventions, questions remain about the use of technology-based reminders in delivering health care services. Text messaging, or short message service (SMS), is one reminder method that has been extensively researched. Most SMS-reminder research is distributed across a range of health care outcomes. The aim of this article is to systematically review the aggregate impact of these reminders on overall health care outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted and yielded 2316 articles. Studies were included if they used SMS reminders to support patient health care outcomes. Study methodology was aligned with the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.

RESULTS

Following screening, 162 articles met inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 93 investigated medical compliance reminders and 56 investigated appointment reminders. The review found that nearly all the SMS-reminder studies helped improve patient medical compliance and appointment reminders. Additionally, researchers reported numerous benefits from using SMS reminders, including ease of use, relative inexpensiveness, and rapid and automated message delivery. Minimal risks were reported and most participants found the reminders to be acceptable.

DISCUSSION

Text messages appear to be an effective reminder mechanism to promote improved patient appointment and medical compliance. Reminders should continue to be evaluated and improved to determine the most effective timing and frequency of messages for improving outcomes.

Missed opportunities for HPV immunization among young adult women

BACKGROUND

Despite the availability of a safe and efficacious vaccine against human papillomavirus, uptake of the vaccine in the United States is low. Missed clinical opportunities to recommend and to administer human papillomavirus vaccine are considered one of the most important reasons for its low uptake in adolescents; however, little is known about the frequency or characteristics of missed opportunities in the young adult (18-26 years of age) population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to assess both the rates of and the factors associated with missed opportunities for human papillomavirus immunization among young adult women who attended an urban obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

STUDY DESIGN

In this cross-sectional study, medical records were reviewed for all women 18-26 years of age who were underimmunized (<3 doses) and who sought care from Feb. 1, 2013, to January 31, 2014, at an urban, hospital-based obstetrics and gynecology clinic. A missed opportunity for human papillomavirus immunization was defined as a clinic visit at which the patient was eligible to receive the vaccine and a dose was due but not administered. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test associations between sociodemographic variables and missed opportunities.

RESULTS

There were 1670 vaccine-eligible visits by 1241 underimmunized women, with a mean of 1.3 missed opportunities/person. During the study period, 833 of the vaccine eligible women (67.1%) had at least 1 missed opportunity. Overall, the most common types of visits during which a missed opportunity occurred were postpartum visits (17%) or visits for either sexually transmitted disease screening (21%) or contraception (33%). Of the patients with a missed opportunity, 26.5% had a visit at which an injectable medication or a different vaccine was administered. Women who identified their race as black had higher adjusted odds of having a missed opportunity compared with white women (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.41], P < .02). Women who reported a non-English- or non-Spanish-preferred language had lower adjusted odds of having a missed opportunity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25 [95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.87], P = .03). No other patient characteristics assessed in this study were significantly associated with having a missed opportunity.

CONCLUSION

A majority of young-adult women in this study had missed opportunities for human papillomavirus immunization, and significant racial disparity was observed. The greatest frequency of missed opportunities occurred with visits for either contraception or for sexually transmitted disease screening.

Improving Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in the Postpartum Setting

Although the HPV vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing cervical dysplasia, vaccination rates remain low. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an electronic medical record (EMR) prompt on HPV vaccination rates in the postpartum setting. We conducted a pre-post intervention study among postpartum women ages 18-26 seen at an outpatient clinic from 09/01/2012-08/31/2013 (pre-intervention) and from 10/01/2013-03/31/2014 (post-intervention). The intervention was a drop-down menu that was inserted into the EMR postpartum note template inquiring about the patient's HPV vaccination status and whether or not the vaccine was administered at that visit. HPV vaccination uptake was compared pre and post-intervention. Of the 278 postpartum visits during the study period, 241 were eligible for analysis. There was a significant increase of the HPV vaccine uptake, from 1.2 % (2/173) among pre-intervention visits to 26.5 % (18/68) among post-intervention visits (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, ethnicity, insurance, and religion, HPV vaccination was significantly higher at postpartum visits during the intervention period, with an adjusted OR = 93.49 [95 % CI 15.29-571.52]. Among visits in which the vaccine was not given, HPV vaccination was not discussed in 46 % and patients refused the vaccine in 40 % of visits. An EMR prompt in the postpartum note could be an effective way to promote HPV vaccination in the postpartum setting. It will likely take a combination of strategies to optimize vaccination uptake.

Implementation of a Postpartum HPV Vaccination Program in a Southeast Texas Hospital: A Qualitative Study Evaluating Health Care Provider Acceptance

Introduction The objective of this qualitative study was to assess healthcare providers' acceptability of an ongoing postpartum human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Southeast Texas and its integration into everyday clinical care. Methods In 2012, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) began offering HPV vaccination as part of standard postpartum care to increase vaccination rates among young women in Galveston County. Initial vaccine doses were offered on the postpartum unit while subsequent doses were coordinated with postpartum and well-baby visits. Thirty months after project initiation, semi-structured interviews of physicians (n = 12) and nurses (n = 6) involved in postpartum and pediatric care at UTMB were conducted. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis in Nvivo10. Results Overall, providers demonstrated "pro-vaccine" attitudes and stated the program was an effective strategy for vaccinating hard-to-reach women. Cancer prevention was the main perceived benefit while follow-up compliance was the primary perceived patient barrier. The initial challenges with integrating postpartum HPV vaccination included miscommunication between providers regarding vaccine orders and coordination issues with well-baby visits for follow-up doses. One novel finding was providers' beliefs that women's personal HPV vaccine practices may positively impact their decisions about later vaccinating their children against HPV. Providers' suggestions to improve the program included: enhancing postpartum HPV vaccine education for patients, offering more continuing education for providers, and increasing community awareness of HPV vaccination. Discussion These findings can help providers of postpartum care understand how to integrate postpartum HPV vaccination into their current practices and how to overcome perceived vaccination barriers.

"My mom said it wasn't important": A case for catch-up human papillomavirus vaccination among young adult women in the United States

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents HPV-related diseases, including anogenital cancers and genital warts. In the United States, while it is recommended to adolescents ages 11 to 12, catch-up vaccination is available for those previously unvaccinated until age 26. Parental decisions or lack of provider recommendation during adolescence are barriers to on-time vaccination. Young adult women, ages 18 to 26, are a key catch-up vaccination population as this is a period for autonomous decision-making, high healthcare utilization, and other recommended prevention behaviors. Additional intervention research is required to promote HPV vaccine uptake among young adult women. Evidence-based and theory-informed interventions need to be developed and evaluated to reach a large number of women. In order to improve HPV vaccination among young adult women, future research should integrate the themes of health literacy, alternative healthcare settings, and OB/GYN providers to facilitate improved access and shared decision-making for the vaccine. This last chance for HPV-related cancer prevention should not be forgotten in public health efforts.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Pap Smear Uptake Among Young Women in the United States: Role of Provider and Patient

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that Pap smear use is higher among U.S. women who received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine than unvaccinated women. This study assessed the role of provider and patient in the difference of Pap smear use by vaccination status.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 5416 young women (21-30 years of age) with detailed information on Pap smear use and HPV vaccination status from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2013-2015. Vaccinated women received at least one dose of HPV vaccine. Main outcomes included Pap smear in the past year, provider's recommendation for Pap smear, and patient-initiated Pap smear.

RESULTS

The prevalence of Pap smear in the past year was much higher among vaccinated women than unvaccinated women (67.5% vs. 52.8%, p < 0.001). Compared with unvaccinated women, vaccinated women were more likely to receive a provider's recommendation for Pap testing (60.8% vs. 50.8%, p < 0.001), to obtain Pap testing after receiving a provider's recommendation (75.1% vs. 67.9%, p = 0.004), and to initiate Pap testing themselves (57.7% vs. 38.2%, p < 0.001). However, among women who visited an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) in the past year, the positive association between HPV vaccination and Pap smear recommendation and uptake vanished.

CONCLUSIONS

Unvaccinated women who have not visited an OB/GYN in the past year are less likely to receive a recommendation for Pap testing from their providers or to initiate Pap testing themselves without a provider's recommendation. They should be encouraged to visit an OB/GYN provider for cervical cancer screening.

Using a Patient Navigator to Improve Postpartum Care in an Urban Women's Health Clinic

OBJECTIVE

To estimate whether postpartum visit attendance was improved in women exposed to a postpartum patient navigation program compared with those who received care immediately before the program's initiation and to assess whether other postpartum health behaviors improved during the intervention period.

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study of women enrolled in a patient navigation program compared with women receiving care before the program. Navigating New Motherhood was a postpartum patient navigation program for adult, English-speaking women receiving prenatal care at a Medicaid-based university clinic. In 2015, Navigating New Motherhood introduced a clinic-level change in which a navigator was hired and assumed supportive and logistic responsibilities for enrolled patients between delivery and postpartum visit completion. We compared medical record data from women who enrolled in Navigating New Motherhood with those of women receiving care in the same clinic for 1 year immediately before Navigating New Motherhood. The primary outcome was postpartum visit attendance. Secondary outcomes included World Health Organization (WHO) Tier 1 or 2 contraception uptake and other health services measures. We conducted bivariable and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 225 women approached for Navigating New Motherhood participation after program initiation, 96.9% (n=218) enrolled; these women were compared with 256 women in the historical cohort. Most women in both groups were racial or ethnic minorities and all had Medicaid insurance. There were no important differences in demographic, clinical, or health service characteristics between groups, although women in Navigating New Motherhood were more likely to transfer into the clinic for prenatal care and to deliver neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The primary outcome, return for postpartum care, was more common among women in Navigating New Motherhood (88.1% compared with 70.3%, P<.001), a difference that persisted after adjustment for potential confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.11-6.04). Women in Navigating New Motherhood also were more likely to receive a WHO Tier 1 or 2 contraceptive method (adjusted OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.38), postpartum depression screening (adjusted OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.79-4.43), and influenza (adjusted OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.38-3.19) and human papillomavirus vaccination (adjusted OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.25-4.33).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a postpartum navigation program was associated with improved retention in routine postpartum care and frequency of contraception uptake, depression screening, and vaccination.

Preventing human papillomavirus-related cancers: we are all in this together

Human papillomavirus-related cancers, which include cervical, vulvovaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, are on the rise in the United States. Although the human papillomavirus vaccine has been on the market for 10 years, human papillomavirus vaccination rates are well below national goals. Research identified many barriers and facilitators to human papillomavirus vaccination, and provider recommendation remains the most important factor in parental and patient decisions to vaccinate. While much of the burden of human papillomavirus vaccine provision falls on pediatricians and primary care providers, they cannot do it alone. As clinicians who care for a large proportion of human papillomavirus-related conditions, obstetrician-gynecologists and other women's health care providers must share the responsibility for vaccination of eligible patients. Obstetrician-gynecologists can support the efforts to eradicate human papillomavirus-related disease in their patients and their families via multiple avenues, including providing the human papillomavirus vaccine and being community leaders in support of vaccination.

Low Uptake of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Postpartum Women, 2006-2012

BACKGROUND

Young adult women find it acceptable to be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine postpartum. Little is known about the practice of administering the HPV vaccine during the postpartum period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database was used to develop a cohort of privately insured 18 to 26-year-old women with uncomplicated live-born pregnancies. Eligibility required no previous doses of HPV vaccine before delivery and continuous insurance enrollment from June 2006 through 1 year postpartum. Descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 51,913 women meet age and enrollment criteria, with 3912 (7.5%) having received any doses of vaccine before their delivery, leaving 48,001 women in this cohort. In the year postpartum, 861 women (1.8%) received any HPV vaccine. Of the women initiating the vaccine, only 337 (39%) completed the three-vaccine series. Women who received the vaccine, compared with women who did not, were younger (21 vs. 23 years old), more often the dependent to the insurance beneficiary (56% vs. 30%), and were more likely to have had an abnormal pap smear in the year prior (19.6% vs. 9.1%) or postdelivery (16.4% vs. 4.9). More women completed the HPV vaccine series when initiated within 2 months postpartum compared with women initiating the vaccine series >2 months postpartum (44% vs. 38%).

CONCLUSIONS

Postpartum women are eligible for the HPV vaccine, yet very few are receiving it. The postpartum period is a missed opportunity for administration of this cancer-preventing vaccine.