From The Journal of Family Practice | 2019;68(10):E1-E7.
References
Tell parents why the timing is important. Inform parents that the HPV vaccine must be administered while their child is young (before the adolescent’s first sexual contact) to ensure the most robust immune response to the vaccine.40 Unsolicited explanations about sexual activity need not be offered when discussing HPV vaccination, as it is fair to assume that sexual contact is a reality for nearly all people in their adolescent or adult life; and by extension, most sexually active people will likely have exposure to HPV at some time in their lives. By adulthood, sexual activity is nearly universal: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health showed that only about 3% of participants tracked since adolescence reported no sexual experience by (average age) 28.5 years.41
How you say it matters. Many pediatricians and family physicians report recommending HPV vaccine inconsistently, behind schedule, or without urgency,42 sending mixed messages by failing to endorse HPV vaccination strongly, failing to differentiate it from other vaccines, and presenting it as an “optional” vaccine that could be delayed.43 Physicians and other health care providers who begin conversations about HPV vaccine by saying that the adolescent is “due” for the vaccine show higher vaccine recommendation quality scores than those who give unsolicited information about the vaccine, elicit questions before recommendation, or present the vaccine as an “option.”42 Parents who are “on the fence” may hesitate and decline HPV vaccination with a halfhearted recommendation.44
The CDC reports that HPV is responsible for about 90% of cervical and anal cancers, 70% of oropharyngeal, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
“Your child is due for his/her Tdap, HPV, influenza, and meningococcal vaccinations to prevent potentially devastating disease and several cancers. I highly recommend all 4 vaccinations today” is more persuasive than, “I recommend your child receive his/her Tdap, meningococcal, and influenza vaccines. And we can also discuss the HPV vaccine.”
Direct presumptive language that assumes vaccine delivery is associated with higher odds of HPV vaccine acceptance and same-day agreement to vaccination than is an open-ended participatory conversational style.45 Saying, “I believe in the importance of this cancer-preventing vaccine for your child” is more persuasive than saying, “What do you think about starting the HPV vaccination series today?”46
Don’t give up when parents initially refuse HPV vaccinations for their adolescents. Parents’ decisions about HPV vaccination may change over time. Repeated positive recommendations and counseling for HPV vaccination over multiple visits have been shown in a large multivariable analysis to increase parent acceptance of HPV vaccination: 45% of parents reported secondary acceptance of HPV vaccination, and an additional 24% intended to vaccinate in the next 12 months.47 Combining a presumptive communication style with motivational interviewing and a fact sheet has contributed to higher clinician-perceived levels of parental HPV vaccine acceptance and increased vaccination rates.48
Continue to: Know how to address parents' concerns about safety
