Designing Messages to Motivate Parents To Get Their Preteenage Sons Vaccinated Against Human Papillomavirus

Abstract

CONTEXT Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, licensed for use in 9–26-year-olds, is most effective when given before sexual activity begins. HPV causes genital warts, is associated with several cancers and disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Parents are typically unaware of male HPV vaccine; messages that might motivate them to get their preteenage sons vaccinated are unexplored. METHODS Messages promoting vaccination of preteenage boys were designed and tested in 2009 and 2010. Five focus groups were conducted with 29 black parents of 11–12-year-old boys, recruited through three churches and a middle school in North Carolina, and a racially diverse sample of 100 parents of 9–13-year-old boys in a university-based adolescent health clinic was interviewed. A constant comparison method was used to code transcripts and interpret themes. Chi-square and t tests or analyses of variance were used to assess differences in quantitative data. RESULTS Focus group parents knew little about HPV in males. Although concerned about safety and cost, parents supported vaccination for their sons. They wanted to see racial diversity and both parents in motivational materials. In interviews, 89% of parents reported never having heard of male HPV vaccine. The largest proportion said that a message stressing the prevalence and possible consequences of HPV infection was the most motivating (32%); the design favored by the largest proportion (43%) showed two parents. CONCLUSIONS Messages that may most motivate parents to get preteenage boys vaccinated against HPV focus on infection risk and include images of parents with their sons.

Physician communication about adolescent vaccination: How is human papillomavirus vaccine different?

“…11–13,22 For example, in a statewide sample of Minnesotan vaccine providers, we found that half of respondents reported that parents request to delay HPV vaccination for younger adolescents “often” or “most of the time.” 13 Interestingly, these perceptions of strong parental hesitancy are generally at odds with research among parents themselves, which finds that a majority value HPV vaccine, are willing to vaccinate, and would prefer to receive strong recommendations from their children’s providers. 4,11,14,23–24 Most of the physicians in our study reported that not having school entry requirements for HPV vaccine contributed to parental hesitancy, and this finding may offer one clue as to why physicians perceive communication about HPV vaccine to be burdensome. Without the supportive policy environments which surround Tdap and, to a lesser extent, meningococcal vaccination, 25 physicians are left to make a case for HPV vaccination without recourse to the law.…”

Reasons for Not Vaccinating Adolescents: National Immunization Survey of Teens, 2008–2010

“…There may be a role for testing state and federally designed social marketing campaigns beyond approaches taken in the past, 29 which have been limited in scope. 30,31 …”

Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Awareness Among US Parents of Preadolescents and Adolescents

“…Given that HPV-infected boys are not only subject to HPV-associated cancers but increased risk of HPV-related diseases for their sexual partners, 21,22 health care providers and public health officials should strive to inform parents of male children about the HPV vaccines, which may directly lead to increased uptake. 23 Furthermore, as older children are more likely to be sexually active, it is essential that they be vaccinated before their first sexual experience. Therefore, from a life course perspective, it is imperative that HPV awareness is promoted among parents of younger children to ensure vaccination at age 11 to 12 years, which can prevent subsequent HPV-related disease burden.…”