INTRODUCTION:Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the United States is low, and lack of vaccination disproportionately affects minority patients and those of a lower socioeconomic status. We sought to assess the effect of race and ethnicity and socioeconomic factors on HPV vaccine adoption over the last decade.METHODS:An analysis was conducted on data from the National Health Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2018 of individuals aged 12–26 years. Sociodemographic and vaccination history was gathered via self-report. Logistic regression models assessed relationships between HPV vaccination and variables of interest.RESULTS:Data from 8,120 individuals were included in the analysis. Vaccine initiation among females rose from 30.5% (95% CI 25.7–35.8) in 2009–2010 to 55.1% (95% CI 50.0–60.0) in 2017–2018 and from 8.3% (95% CI 6.2–10.9) in 2011–2012 to 36.4% (95% CI 31.2–41.9) in 2017–2018 for males. Individuals with insurance coverage were 2.0 times more likely to report being vaccinated (95% CI 1.8–2.6). Independent of insurance coverage, having a routine place to seek health care was associated with a 1.9 times increase (95% CI 1.5–2.3) in HPV vaccination. Independent of insurance and access to care, Mexican American and non-Hispanic Black individuals were 1.7 times (95% CI 1.3–2.2) and 1.4 times (95% CI 1.1–1.9) less likely to complete the vaccine series compared to non-Hispanic White individuals.CONCLUSION:Human papillomavirus vaccination initiation has increased in the United States over the past 10 years; however, vaccination has plateaued among women with only half of females vaccinated and nearly a fifth initiating but not completing the series. Access to care appears to be a significant predictor of HPV vaccination.

To increase Soldiers’ access to HPV vaccination, we evaluated the feasibility and sustainability of a nurse-led intervention to integrate HPV vaccination into medical processing procedures for Soldiers. We partnered with nursing staff to introduce HPV vaccine into existing vaccination services at a nurse-led clinic that serves Soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In addition to stocking the vaccine, the intervention included training nursing staff ( n = 11) strategies for recommending HPV vaccination for Soldiers ages 18–26. We conducted surveys of nursing staff to assess their perspectives on feasibility. Nursing staff tracked HPV vaccine uptake among Soldiers for 4 weeks post-training to assess adoption and again for 2 weeks at 4-month follow-up to assess sustainability. We assessed delivery cost as the cost of personnel time, vaccine doses, and other materials during the initial 4-week intervention period. Nursing staff agreed that recommending HPV vaccination fit in with medical processing procedures (mean = 4.6 of 5.0). Of the 516 Soldiers offered HPV vaccine in the 4 weeks following the training, 198 (38%) accepted and received the vaccine. Soldier ages 18–20 more often accepted HPV vaccination than older Soldier ages 21–26 (46% versus 32%, p < .01). Vaccine uptake was similar at follow-up, with 98 of 230 eligible Soldiers (43%) receiving HPV vaccine. The total delivery cost was $12,737, with an average cost per vaccine dose delivered of $64. Our findings suggest that training nursing staff to recommend and administer HPV vaccinations to Soldiers is feasible and warrants wider-scale testing as a strategy to protect soldiers from HPV-attributable cancers.

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Objective To assess gaps in human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge and current attitudes toward HPV vaccination among active duty soldiers at Fort Bragg, NC, and to evaluate the impact of the instruction intervention on knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV vaccination. Methods A six-question assessment was administered to soldiers presenting for appointments through the Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC) Clinic at Fort Bragg in January 2020. Questions included five multiple choice knowledge assessments and a Likert scale attitude question regarding HPV vaccination. The assessment was administered before and after a one-on-one educational intervention conducted by the EDC Clinic nursing staff. Pre- and post-assessments were matched using unique encounter numbers. Results A total of 139 matched pre- and post-education assessments were completed. Statistically significant changes in HPV knowledge were observed in test score and percent correct (P &lt; .001). Additionally, for individuals reporting no prior HPV vaccination, attitudes toward receiving it increased from 4 (interquartile range 3-5) to 5 (4-5) following instructions (P &lt; .001). This indicates a shift from moderately interested to very interested. Conclusions Results among soldiers demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding HPV infection, its long-term effects, and preventive measures available among this population of active duty members. Assessment results also illustrated education about HPV infection and vaccination positively impacts soldiers’ knowledge and attitudes toward HPV vaccination.