Some countries have achieved high rates of HPV vaccination by administering the vaccine in school settings. This school-located approach minimizes, but does not entirely eliminate, the need for direct conversations about vaccination with a health care provider (HCP). Other countries, including the U.S., largely rely on office-based HPV vaccination, in which HCP communication with parents and adolescents are central to vaccine acceptance. However, research suggests that a primary reason for non-vaccination is the lack of a strong recommendation by HCPs. This presentation will be part of the session “Identifying and Overcoming Communication Challenges.”
A review of research literature on HCP communication about HPV vaccination, as well as reviews of clinical training programs to improve such communication, will form the basis of this presentation.
Research shows that many HCPs are ineffective at communicating about HPV vaccine. They infrequently make a strong, presumptive recommendation, often recommend delay of vaccination, and at times engage in long, overly detailed, unproductive monologues. Intervention research points to advantages of presumptive recommendation approaches. Training programs also emphasize strong, presumptive recommendations, but also focus on ways of engaging HPV-vaccine-hesitant parents and adolescents.
Research and good clinical practice support HCP communication about HPV vaccination that begins with a strong, presumptive, same-day recommendation. Most parents and adolescents will respond well to this kind of communication approach and will accept vaccination. For parents and adolescents who push back against this approach, it is important to implement strategies that engage with, and respond to, the hesitancy. These strategies may include use of motivational interviewing techniques and provision of accurate information about HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness.