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. 2022 Jan 21;40(2):344-350.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.055. Epub 2021 Dec 6.

Provider response and follow-up to parental declination of HPV vaccination

Marjorie A Margolis  1 , Noel T Brewer  1 , Marcella H Boynton  2 , Jennifer Elston Lafata  3 , Brian G Southwell  4 , Melissa B Gilkey  5
Affiliations

Provider response and follow-up to parental declination of HPV vaccination

Marjorie A Margolis et al. Vaccine. .

Abstract

Objective: Parents often decline HPV vaccination, but little is known about how healthcare providers should promote vaccination at a later visit for secondary acceptance. We examined the associations of two factors, providers' response to declination during the visit and follow-up after the visit, with secondary acceptance.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of US parents whose 9- to 17-year-old child had not yet completed the HPV vaccination series. Parents who declined HPV vaccination during an initial discussion with a provider (n = 447) reported whether their provider engaged in any active response during the visit (e.g., giving information, trying to change their mind) or any follow-up after the visit (e.g., scheduling another visit). We conducted multivariable logistic regression to determine whether an active response or follow-up was associated with secondary acceptance of HPV vaccination.

Results: Only about one-third of parents reported an active response during the visit (35%) or follow-up after the visit (39%) following HPV vaccination declination. Parents had higher odds of secondary acceptance of HPV vaccine if they received any provider follow-up after the visit (43% vs. 20%, aOR:3.19; 95% CI:2.00:5.07). Receipt of an active provider response was not associated with secondary acceptance. More parents thought a provider should actively respond and follow-up (61% and 68% respectively), compared with those who received such a response (both p < .01).

Conclusions: Providers' follow-up after the visit may be important for promoting secondary acceptance of HPV vaccination. Parents who decline HPV vaccination often prefer to receive an active response or follow-up from a provider.

Keywords: Adolescent health; Human papillomavirus infections/prevention & control; Human papillomavirus vaccine; Patient-provider communication.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Although not in the past three years, we do wish to share that Dr. Brewer has received vaccine-related grants and honoraria from or served on paid advisory boards for Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Parents' preferred provider response versus provider response received, *p<0.01
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Parents’ preferred provider follow-up versus provider follow-up received, *p<0.01
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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