Questions and Concerns About HPV Vaccine: A Communication Experiment

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:We sought to identify effective responses to parents' questions and concerns about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. METHODS:In 2017-2018, we surveyed a national sample of 1196 US parents of children aged 9 to 17 years. We recorded brief videos of a pediatrician providing messages that addressed 7 HPV vaccination topics that commonly elicit questions or concerns (eg, recommended age). We randomly assigned parents to 1 of the message topics; parents then viewed 4 videos on that topic in random order and evaluated the messages. RESULTS:Parents were more confident in HPV vaccine when they were exposed to messages that addressed lack of knowledge about HPV vaccine (b = 0.13; P = .01), messages that included information about cancer prevention (b = 0.11; P < .001), messages that required a higher reading level (b = 0.02; P = .01), and messages that were longer (b = 0.03; P < .001). Parents were less confident in HPV vaccine when exposed to messages in which urgency was expressed (b = −0.06; P = .005). Analyses conducted by using HPV vaccine motivation as an outcome revealed the same pattern of findings. CONCLUSIONS:We provide research-tested messages that providers can use to address parents' HPV vaccination questions and concerns about 7 common topics. Important principles for increasing message effectiveness are to include information on the benefits of vaccination (including cancer prevention) and avoid expressing urgency to vaccinate when addressing parents' questions or concerns. Additionally, providers may need to be prepared to have longer conversations with parents who express concerns about HPV vaccine, especially regarding safety and side effects. abstract NIH

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Estimates Among Adolescents in the Mississippi Delta Region: National Immunization Survey‑Teen, 2015–2017

“…Although provider recommendation for vaccination was associated with HPV vaccination initiation in all 3 geographic areas, children inside the DRA region were less likely to have received a provider recommendation for HPV vaccination than children outside the DRA region. Previous research has indicated that both the source and manner of recommendation influence parental recept-iveness to HPV vaccination (22,23); physicians are a trusted source of vaccination information and could be a crucial influence for increasing HPV vaccination in the DRA region and elsewhere. An announcement that includes a statement that assumes parents are ready to vaccinate results in higher vaccination coverage (22).…”

“…Previous research has indicated that both the source and manner of recommendation influence parental recept-iveness to HPV vaccination (22,23); physicians are a trusted source of vaccination information and could be a crucial influence for increasing HPV vaccination in the DRA region and elsewhere. An announcement that includes a statement that assumes parents are ready to vaccinate results in higher vaccination coverage (22). CDC has developed resources incorporating these communication principles to demonstrate how to give an effective recommendation (24) that might be helpful for clinicians inside the DRA region and elsewhere.…”

Exploring variation in parental worries about HPV vaccination: a latent-class analysis

“…Emerging evidence suggests that providers can increase parents' intention to vaccinate by using researchtested messages that seek to normalize HPV vaccination. 28 For example, they might say, "HPV vaccine is one of the most studied medications on the market. This vaccine is safe, just like the other vaccines given at this age."…”

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Barriers to and Facilitators of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Adolescents in Montana

“…These findings align with evidence supporting the importance of strong and consistent vaccine recommendations from medical providers, 10,25 as well as the effectiveness of messaging that frames the HPV vaccine as a means of cancer prevention rather than prevention of sexually transmitted infection. 26 Many barriers to vaccination identified in this study are not unique to Montana. Parental vaccine hesitancy, including concerns about the vaccine's safety and necessity, was identified as a barrier in other national 27 and state investigations, including states with large rural populations, such as Alabama and South Carolina.…”