Women with fibroids or symptoms suggestive of fibroids experience significant distress that reduces QOL, particularly racial minorities and women in lower income brackets. Survey results suggest that many women are likely undiagnosed, underscoring the need for improved awareness and education.

Background Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) is the most common cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the United States. The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends vaccination of healthy adolescents against MenB based on shared clinical decision-making (Category B recommendation). This survey assessed factors associated with MenB vaccine awareness, utilization, and interest among parents/guardians of US adolescents. Methods Survey participants were identified in 2016 through KnowledgePanel®, an online random sample of US households; population-based weighting methodology was used to ensure data reflected a demographically representative population sample. Adults with ≥1 dependent aged 16–19 years were eligible and completed an online questionnaire. Respondents were grouped in terms of MenB vaccination of their child as: 1) vaccinated, 2) intending to vaccinate, 3) MenB vaccine-unaware, or 4) vaccine-aware but not intending to vaccinate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors influencing MenB vaccine awareness and utilization; univariate analyses used the weighted proportion of each group or weighted means, and multivariate analyses used logistic regression models based on the weighted study sample of each group. Results Six hundred nineteen parents/guardians participated, corresponding to 26,266,700 members of the US population after weighting. MenB vaccine awareness was significantly associated with parent race and sex. Specifically, 57% of parents were unaware of MenB vaccines, and there was significantly higher lack of awareness among males and those of Hispanic or non-White ethnicity. In addition, 36% of unaware parents/guardians were interested in and seeking MenB vaccine information from their healthcare provider (HCP), and there was higher interest among parents of Hispanic ethnicity. ‘Vaccinated/intending to vaccinate’ versus ‘not intending to vaccinate’ and ‘vaccinated’ versus ‘intending to vaccinate’ were both strongly associated with whether an HCP had recommended vaccination (odds ratios, 4.81 [95% CI 2.46, 9.35] and 5.66 [95% CI 2.46, 12.87], respectively). Conclusions Racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the awareness and utilization of MenB vaccines among parents/guardians of US adolescents. HCP discussion and recommendation are critical catalysts for MenB vaccination and underscore the need to accurately interpret and implement the shared clinical decision-making (Category B) recommendation.

This study provides insight into modern women's attitudes and views toward prescription contraception that may be important to clinicians and women themselves.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine fibroids (UF) are highly prevalent among reproductive-age women with up to 50% of US women reporting symptoms that may be undiagnosed or untreated. The objective of this survey included understanding the impact of UF symptoms. METHODS: Female participants (≥18 years) were recruited via email from GfK KnowledgePanel®, a nationally representative panel of U.S. households, supplemented with opt-in consumer panels. The survey was 40-minutes long and used instruments such as the UFS-QoL and Aberdeen menorrhagia severity scale (AMSS). RESULTS: A total of 1,443 women were considered eligible and included in the study. Of the diagnosed women without hysterectomy (n=871), 68% passed blood clots, and 32% used ≥6 forms of protection/day based on the AMSS. Based on the UFS-QoL Symptom Severity Subscale, 44% and 43% of diagnosed women reported fatigue and heavy bleeding, respectively, as causing a 'great deal/very great deal' of distress. One-fifth of working women missed ≥8 work-hours monthly (21% full-time, 23% part-time workers). Of women who were undiagnosed but had UF-like symptoms ('at-risk'; n=300), only 49% were aware of UF. Approximately 84% passed blood clots, and 55% used ≥6 forms of protection/day. Of the at-risk women, 83% and 78% reported fatigue and heavy bleeding, respectively, as causing a 'great deal/very great deal' of distress. Overall, 22% full-time and 45% part-time workers missed ≥8 work-hours monthly. CONCLUSION: Women with UF experience distress and impaired work productivity. A substantial number of women may be undiagnosed with significant symptoms, underscoring the need for improved awareness and management of UF.

BackgroundIn 2015, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made a Category B recommendation for serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines for adolescents 16–18 years. In 2016, MenB caused ~60% of invasive meningococcal disease among US individuals 16–23 years old; however, utilization of MenB vaccines was much lower than other vaccines with Category A recommendations. Therefore, we examined factors associated with awareness and utilization of MenB vaccines.MethodsAn online quantitative survey was fielded among 619 US parents of adolescents aged 16–19 years, recruited from GfK’s KnowledgePanel® in December 2016. Demographics, access to care, decision making, and vaccine use were collected. A population-based weighting method was applied. Four logistic regressions and Classification And Regression Trees (CART) were conducted to examination most influential factors associated with MenB vaccine awareness and utilization.ResultsOf the weighted sample, 57% were unaware of MenB vaccines (Figure 1). Results from logistic regression models (Table 1) revealed that awareness was likely associated with gender and race. Parents who obtained a recommendation from HCPs were 4.8 (95% CI: 2.5–9.4) times more likely to vaccinate or intend to vaccinate their adolescent children and 5.7 (95% CI: 2.5–12.9) times more likely have adolescents already vaccinated than those parents who did not receive the recommendation from HCP. Race/ethnicity and insurance type were associated with awareness and vaccine utilization. The results from CART verified that HCPs’ recommendation is the most influential factor to predict the vaccination status. Parents’ socio-economic status and their relationship with HCPs were among the most influential predictors of awareness of MenB vaccines or interest in learning about MenB vaccines if they were unaware.ConclusionMenB awareness and vaccination are associated with parents’ socio-economic status and HCPs’ recommendation. Even among those unaware, there was a willingness to vaccinate when recommended by an HCP. These data underscore the critical need for robust understanding and consistent implementation of ACIP’s Category B recommendation to reduce inequities in MenB vaccine awareness and utilization. Disclosures L. Huang, Pfizer: Employee and Shareholder, Salary and Stocks. A. Dempsey, Pfizer, Merck: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. A. Galitsky, Pfizer: Collaborator, Research support. M. Fahimi, Pfizer: Collaborator, Research support. A. Srivastava, Pfizer: Employee and Shareholder, Salary.