ABSTRACT
A theory and community-based educational intervention was designed to increase HPV-related knowledge and intent to vaccinate adolescent girls, against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Appalachia, a region with high cervical cancer incidence and mortality. An HPV educational session was conducted with immediate pre-/post-test questionnaires and 1-month follow-up telephone interview. McNemar tests and paired t tests evaluated change in individual knowledge variables and change in overall knowledge and intent to vaccinate against HPV, respectively. Of 117 attendees, 38 (32.5%) were parents of vaccine-eligible daughters and 79 (67.5%) non-parental caregivers. HPV-related knowledge increased for all participants (p < 0.0001) and among parents (p < 0.0001). Intent to vaccinate daughters within 1 month increased among parents (p = 0.002). Of nine (23.7%) parents who completed the follow-up interview, 100% reported the intervention as helpful and 44.4% reported that they started vaccination. Our education intervention was associated with increased HPV-related knowledge and intent to vaccinate girls in Appalachia against HPV.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/education , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control , Papillomavirus Vaccines/therapeutic use , Parents/education , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Appalachian Region , Caregivers/psychology , Child , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Intention , Male , Middle Aged , Papillomaviridae/pathogenicity , Papillomavirus Infections/virology , Parents/psychology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of cervical cancer in Appalachia exceeds the national rate; rural Appalachian women are at especially high risk. We assessed the attitudes and practices related to human papillomavirus vaccination among providers in primary care practices in a contiguous 5-county area of Appalachian Pennsylvania. METHODS: In December 2006 and May 2007, all family medicine, pediatric, and gynecology practices (n = 65) in the study area were surveyed by 2 faxed survey instruments. RESULTS: Of the 65 practices, 55 completed the first survey instrument. Of these 55, 44 offered the vaccine to their patients. Forty of the 44 practices offered it to girls and women aged 9 to 26 years, and 11 were willing to accept referrals from other practices for vaccination. The average reported charge for each of the 3 required injections was $150. Of the 55 practices that responded to the first survey instrument, 49 responded to the second survey instrument, 46 of which recommended the vaccine to their patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of offering the vaccine against human papillomavirus was high in this area of Appalachian Pennsylvania. Future interventions may focus on community education because the vaccine is available from most providers.
