Reasons patients cite to their health-care professional for not initiating or completing human papillomavirus vaccination

Abstract

Background: Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is critical to the prevention of HPV-associated cancers. This study aimed to describe the reasons patients cited for not initiating or completing the HPV vaccination series, as reported by health-care professionals. Methods: Study data were obtained from a University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center population-based cross-sectional survey of health-care professionals practicing in Texas. Prevalence estimates of reasons cited for not initiating or completing HPV vaccination were estimated by patient population (parents of children and adult patients). Results: The study included 973 primary care clinicians, of whom 45.53% were physicians and 54.47% were midlevel care professionals. For parents who did not initiate HPV vaccination for their child, the most commonly cited reasons were the belief that the vaccine was not needed (52.54%, 95% CI = 48.90% to 56.15%), that the child was not sexually active (52.54%, 95% CI = 48.90% to 56.15%), and safety concerns/side effects (47.05%, 95% CI = 43.44% to 50.69%). Among age-eligible adults who did not initiate HPV vaccination, lack of knowledge and awareness was the most commonly cited reason (30.52%, 95% CI = 27.71% to 33.50%). For noncompletion of the HPV vaccine series, parents most commonly cited competing priorities (41.29%, 95% CI = 37.76% to 44.91%), followed by adverse reactions after the first dose (16.05%, 95% CI = 13.56% to 18.90%). Similarly, for noncompletion of the HPV vaccine series among adults, competing priorities was the most cited reason (31.04%, 95% CI = 28.20% to 34.02%). Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of addressing misconceptions and improving education about HPV vaccination to increase vaccination uptake rates and prevent HPV-related cancers.