HPV vaccination among French girls and women aged 14-23 years and the relationship with their mothers' uptake of Pap smear screening: a study in general practice.

INTRODUCTION: HPV vaccination is recommended in France for girls aged 14 and for those aged 15-23 before sexual debut or who have become sexually active within the previous year. The first aim was to describe vaccination practice among 14-23-year-old girls visiting a general practitioner. A second objective was to investigate factors associated with starting vaccination among girls aged 14-18, in particular the regular practice of Pap-smear screening (PSS) by their mothers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2009. A total of 87 general practitioners from the large Rhône-Alpes region contributed data on 502 girls/women who came for consultation. RESULTS: 231 (46.0%) of these girls/women had begun the process of HPV vaccination (68.2%, 56.9% and 18.7% of the 14-16, 17-20 and 21-23-year-olds respectively) of whom 139 (60.2%) had received all three doses. 92 girls/women (39.8%) had received only one or two doses at the time of study. However, in 71 (77.2%) cases, the gap between the last dose received and the time of study was within the between-dose interval recommended in the vaccination schedule. GPs reported that 16 (11.5%) had mentioned side effects following injections. Having a mother who practised regular PSS (Odds Ratio 6.2 [1.5-25.8]), having never lived with a partner (4.6 [1.6-13.5]) and vaccination against hepatitis B (3.2 [1.6-6.1]) were found to be independently correlated with the initiation of HPV vaccination among girls/women aged 14-18 years. CONCLUSION: Two years after the start of the programme, only half of girls/women aged 14-23 years had begun the process of HPV vaccination. HPV vaccination status was correlated with PSS in the mother, family status and hepatitis B vaccination. Such information may help to better target girls who are less likely to be vaccinated.

Factors associated with Pap smear screening among French women visiting a general practitioner in the Rhône-Alpes region.

BACKGROUND: To help prevent cervical cancer, three yearly opportunistic Pap smear screening is recommended in France for women aged 25-65 years. Pap smear screening coverage varies with age and socioeconomic level. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with a low uptake of Pap smear screening among women with no limited access to healthcare. METHODS: We analyzed data from women aged 25-65 living in the Rhône-Alpes region who completed a self-administered questionnaire given to them by general practitioners between June and August 2008. The questionnaire covered knowledge about cervical cancer and its prevention as well as the women's history of Pap smear screening and other health-related behaviors. The relationship between low uptake of Pap smear screening--defined as not having had the test within the past 3 years--and a range of possible contributing factors was investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 1186 women with an intact uterus who completed the questionnaire, 89.1% said they had had a Pap smear within the past 3 years. On multivariate analysis, the 10.9% who had not were significantly more likely to live alone (1.76 [1.13-2.74]), to have no children (2.17 [1.31-3.62]), to have never used contraception (5.35 [2.98-9.62]), to have less knowledge about Pap smear screening (3.40 [1.55-7.49]), and to be unvaccinated against hepatitis B (0.55 [0.35-0.87]). CONCLUSION: Despite high overall compliance with Pap smear screening recommendations among women who consulted general practitioners, several factors were significantly associated with a low uptake of the service. Considering these factors may help to refine messages aimed at cervical cancer prevention.

[Description of patients with confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 admitted to an intensive care unit and identification of severity risk factors]. / Description des cas confirmés de grippe A(H1N1)pdm09 admis en réanimation et identification des facteurs de gravité

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for objective to describe patients with confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital and to identify risk factors correlated with the severity of the disease. DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted in an university hospital during the A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza pandemic. Severe laboratory confirmed cases (admitted to an ICU) were described and compared with non-severe confirmed cases (not admitted to an ICU). RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were included; 36 (52%) were 15 to 44 years of age. Sixteen (23%) cases were defined as severe, ten of these (63%) concerned patients 45 to 64 years of age. The independent factors associated with severity were: a history of heart disease, obesity, and tobacco abuse. CONCLUSIONS: This work reinforces the need to identify and protect groups at risk of severe outcomes.

[Gynaecologists' attitudes and practices towards HPV vaccination: a quantitative-qualitative study in Rhône-Alpes]. / Perception et pratique de la vaccination HPV par les gynécologues : une étude quantitative et qualitative en Rhône-Alpes.

OBJECTIVES: Acceptance of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine by targeted population will mainly depend on its acceptability among gynaecologists. We examined the perceptions, attitudes and practices of gynaecologists in relation to HPV vaccination 1 year after licensing. POPULATION AND METHODS: From November 2007 to April 2008, a cross-sectional survey was carried among a representative 10% sample of gynaecologists in the French Rhône-Alpes region. Both quantitative (self-administered questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) approaches were used. RESULTS: Among the 52 respondents, 90.4% of gynaecologists reported a favourable opinion about HPV vaccination, 5.8% were uncertain and 1.9% was opposed (one did not answer). The main justification for a favourable opinion related to the public health effects of the HPV vaccination (cited by 31.9% of those favouring vaccination). The main justification for an uncertain or opposed opinion was the too recent introduction of the vaccine (cited by 100%). During the month preceding the survey, 40.4% had provided HPV vaccination, mainly in 15-23 years old girls (38.5%). The major difficulties in providing HPV vaccination were questions asked by patients (cited by 44.2% of the respondents) and the targeted age of 14 years (13.5%). A total of 87.5% of respondents reported to have discussed with 14-year-old vaccinated girls of Pap-smear and 12.5% of STI prevention. CONCLUSION: One year after HPV vaccine licensing, gynaecologists of Rhône-Alpes region had a favourable opinion about it, despite some difficulties. Little information about STI prevention to vaccinated girls was reported opposite to information about Pap-smear.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: perception and practice among French general practitioners in the year since licensing.

Acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by targeted populations will depend to a large extent on its acceptability among physicians. We examined the perceptions, attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) in relation to HPV vaccination. From November 2007 to April 2008, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among a representative 5% sample of GPs in the large Rhône-Alpes region of France. Both quantitative (self-administered questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) approaches were used. During the month preceding the survey, 75.6% of the 279 GPs who responded had given at least one HPV vaccination and 47.6% had given a vaccination at the routine target age of 14 years. Overall, 80.8% of GPs reported a favourable opinion about HPV vaccination, 17.4% were uncertain and 1.8% were opposed. The main justification for a favourable opinion related to the public health benefits of the HPV vaccination (cited by 60% of those favouring vaccination). The main justification for an "opposed or uncertain" opinion was the too recent introduction of the vaccine (cited by 43.4%). The major difficulties in providing HPV vaccination were patients' concerns about potential side effects (cited by 37% of the respondents) and the target age of 14 years (28.9%). Interviews suggested that the concern about age may relate to the need, as perceived by GPs, to discuss sexually transmitted infections with adolescent patients. A favourable opinion about HPV vaccination was associated with seeing more female patients per week, younger age, and GPs' intention to recommend hepatitis B vaccination. This representative survey of GPs in a major region of France finds a favourable opinion about the HPV vaccine and widespread use of it, despite some concerns that the recent introduction of the vaccine means that we do not yet fully understand the potential for side effects and about the recommended target age of recipients.