Trust and experience as predictors of HPV vaccine acceptance

Abstract

Background: Awareness of factors associated with uptake of new childhood vaccinations could help physicians focus attention on parents who are most likely to decline to help and ensure that they are fully informed before making a vaccination decision.

Aim: To examine the association between general vaccine attitudes, trust in doctors and the government, past experience with vaccination, and acceptance of HPV vaccination.

Design: School-based survey.

Setting: Questionnaires were sent through 10 schools in England.

Participants: Questionnaires were sent to 1205 mothers of 8-14 year old girls. Responses from 684 mothers were included in analyses.

Outcome measures: Intended acceptance of prophylactic HPV vaccination.

Results: Mothers who had high trust in doctors or the government were more likely to accept the vaccine (OR = 1.35, CI: 1.22-1.50), as were those who believed their own doctor would take their vaccine concerns seriously (OR = 1.70, CI: 1.23-2.36). Mothers who had delayed (OR = 0.31, CI: 0.19-0.51), refused (OR = 0.33, CI: 0.18-0.59), or regretted (OR = 0.43, CI: 0.19-0.99) a previous paediatric vaccination were less likely to accept the HPV vaccine. The child having experienced adverse effects from a previous vaccination was not significantly associated with acceptance (OR = 0.48, CI: 0.21-1.10).

Conclusions: Past experience and trust in doctors and government were associated with differential acceptance of a new vaccine. These results suggest that doctors should listen to parents' worries about vaccination, especially parents who have previously delayed or refused vaccines. It may also be beneficial for health information to emphasize the general importance of vaccination as an effective disease prevention strategy.