1. Demographics of Parents
Parental Decision Making Regarding Vaccination of Their Children Against Human Papilloma Virus Jennifer Sepede DO, Linda Boyd DO, Alison Mancuso DO
Rowan University SOM, Department of Family Medicine, Stratford, NJ
Abstract:
Background and Hypothesis:
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease, yet in 2013, 57% of females ages received at least one dose and only 38% received all doses of the HPV vaccine. Vaccination rates are lower in males. A previous study concluded that the key to greater vaccination rates would result from increased parental awareness. We hypothesized that lack of parental education about HPV vaccine decreased the rate of vaccination against HPV before the age of 18 years old.
Methods:
An IRB-approved survey was given to parents of children age 18 or younger at four family medicine offices using convenience sampling. Questions focused on their children’s vaccination status, knowledge of the HPV vaccine, the best way to receive information about the vaccine, if they will or will not vaccinate their children, and why.
Results:
Forty surveys were completed from 32 females and 8 males. Results were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. Overall, 72.5% of parents with daughters and 65% of parents with sons either had or intended to vaccinate them against HPV. Physician discussion of the vaccine did not significantly impact vaccination decisions in parents with daughters, however, it did impact vaccination decisions for parents with sons. Eighty percent of parents with sons vaccinated or intended to vaccinate their sons after their physician discussed vaccination with them compared to only 50% where the physician did not discuss (p=0.048). Vaccination preference was not significantly different based on other demographics. Participants were knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine and the majority felt that a doctor was the appropriate place to get information about the HPV vaccine, however, it had no impact on vaccination rates.   
Conclusion:
While survey completion rate did not yield enough data to make any conclusions, survey data collected suggested that physician education may increase parental decision to vaccinate their sons against HPV, but has no impact on whether parents will vaccinate their daughters. Other factors had no statistically significant impact on parental decision making regarding the HPV vaccine.
BACKGROUND
Figure 1. Physician discussion of the vaccine did not significantly impact vaccination decisions in parents with daughters, however, it did impact vaccination decisions for parents with sons. Eighty percent (16/20) of parents with sons vaccinated or intended to vaccinate their sons after their physician discussed vaccination with them compared to only fifty percent (10/20) when the physician did not discuss (p=0.048).
Demographics of Parents
METHOD
Figure 2. Parents who completed the survey were stratified by gender, race, religion and current age.
References
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4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Gardasil. (2015, August 5). Retrieved October 4, 2015, from
5. Wisk, L. E., PhD, Allchin, A., BA, & Witt, W. P., PhD, MPH. (2014). Disparities in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Awareness Among US Parents of Preadolescents and Adolescents. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 41(2),
Acknowledgement: We acknowledge RowanSOM Department of Family Medicine. The study was approved by the institution’s Institutional Review Board.