We introduced a multi-component cancer prevention awareness program to primary care practices across New York State to evaluate its impact on adolescent HPV vaccination rates.

Eight pediatric and three family medicine practices were recruited to participate in this program. Researchers provided on-site training sessions for all practice providers and staff to discuss the importance of the HPV vaccine and cancer prevention and teach strategies for delivering a solid vaccine recommendation. Each practice received a study-specific booklet that included HPV vaccine information and other commonly provided cancer prevention guidance. These booklets were distributed to all adolescents and their parents during good visits over one year. Researchers assessed Practice-specific and county-wide HPV vaccination rates before and 12 months after the program training session.

One year after program initiation, aggregate data show statistically higher vaccine series initiation rates among 11–12 and 13–18-year-olds and higher vaccine series completion rates among 13–18-year-olds. Researchers saw the most significant and most consistent improvements in vaccine initiation rates for the 11–12-year-old cohort. Disparities in vaccine uptake were observed by gender and medical specialty.

The study concluded that cancer prevention education targeting providers, office staff, patients, and parents improved adolescent HPV vaccine series initiation rates.

Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2020.1812316

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