Brief report: Measuring the attitudes of health care professionals in dane county toward adolescent immunization with HPV vaccine

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate regional health care professionals' views of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination recommendations for adolescent patients through a mailed survey. Methods: A 16-question self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 518 physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in Dane County, Wis, working in family medicine, pediatrics, or gynecology in September 2006. The survey addressed health care professionals' willingness to recommend the HPV vaccine, populations they would target for a recommendation, and justifications provided to patients regarding the benefits of HPV vaccination. Results: Of the health care professionals who were mailed a survey, 39% responsed. The majority (95%) of professionals were willing to recommend the HPV vaccine to their adolescent patients. Most practitioners (67%) were planning to recommend the vaccine to their female patients only and are most comfortable vaccinating patients >10 years of age. Health care professionals were looking to their own health profession organizations for vaccination recommendations. Conclusion: Health care professionals in family medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology in Dane County, Wis, have positive attitudes regarding HPV vaccine recommendation for their adolescent patients.