The importance of coherently understanding cervical cancer vaccination: factors associated with young Australian women’s uptake of the HPV vaccine

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer vaccination is efficacious and widely available, yet uptake is less than optimal, even in countries such as Australia that provide government-funded vaccination programmes. Effective communication strategies are needed for presenting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-related information in a format that enhances understanding about the vaccine, and ultimately, uptake of the vaccine. Using the Common Sense Model framework, we aimed to assess the role of illness coherence in women's decisions to undergo the vaccine. As a secondary aim, we piloted a communication strategy entailing the provision of Disease RiskAction Link information about the links between HPV, cervical cancer, and vaccination on women's cervical cancer illness coherence. Methods: In total, 132 young Australian women (18-26 years old) completed online surveys measuring illness coherence, vaccine status, intentions to undergo vaccination, and medical/demographic variables. Women who had not undergone vaccination were then randomised to receive either a brief or detailed information message about cervical cancer. Messages varied by the extent of detail (brief vs. detailed) providing Disease Risk-Action Link information about the link between the action of the vaccine, the HPV, and cervical cancer. Next, illness coherence was re-assessed. Results: ANOVA results suggested that women who were vaccinated reported higher levels of illness coherence. Linear regression analyses indicated that, in non-vaccinated women, illness coherence was significantly associated with intentions to vaccinate. ANCOVA analysis indicated that non-vaccinated women assigned to the detailed message condition reported greater increases in illness coherence compared to those assigned to the brief message condition. Conclusion: Illness coherence appears to be an important factor in actual vaccination uptake and intentions to vaccinate. The experimental informational message manipulation further demonstrated that the provision of detailed messages highlighting

Psychological Variables Associated with HPV Vaccination Intent in Romanian Academic Settings

“…Furthermore, the sense of coherence did not prove in our study to be predictive for the vaccination intent; in other words, understanding the link between vaccination and the lower risk of cervical cancer could have not played a significant role in adopting this preventive behavior. These findings come in contrast with other literature studies that illustrate the importance of the sense of coherence for developing the intention to get vaccinated [70]. This contradiction could stem from the large dispersion of the SOC results (possibly reflecting a lack of proper understanding of the test questions) but could be equally explained by the already vaccinated individuals (possibly with a higher SOC) not having taken part in the study.…”

Knowledge, beliefs and communication preferences with regards to the HPV vaccine; the perspective of unvaccinated Greek adolescent girls, young women, and mothers of vaccine-eligible girls

“…Findings of a recent Australian study suggest that exposure to a detailed informational message as opposed to a brief one increases illness coherence, a psychological construct found to predict HPV vaccination uptake. Illness coherence is not just about learning the facts about a health issue but rather feeling confident about the knowledge acquired and subsequently acting upon it (Sherman, Kilby, Moore, & Shaw, 2017). Moreover, Krawczyk et al (2012) conducted a randomized control study comparing video and written education interventions in terms of HPV knowledge and vaccination intentions.…”

Facilitators and barriers for tuberculosis preventive treatment among patients with latent tuberculosis infection: a qualitative study

“…A semi-structured topic guide, which was developed from the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM-SR) [17] and literature review was used in all of the interviews. CMS-SR was selected as it was one of the theoretical models that are frequently used in studies related to preventive medicine and medication adherence [18][19][20]. CSM-SR is a theoretical framework in which an individual perceives a health threat, which then develops two parallel yet interrelated cognitive and emotional responses towards the health threat with continuous feedback on the response and health threat [17].…”