title: Predictors of time to completion of the hepatitis B vaccination series among adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine adolescents' completion rates and factors affecting completion time of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior to vaccination, participants from a hospital-based and school-based adolescent clinic completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic variables, family/friend experience with HBV and the vaccine, likelihood of completing the vaccinations, HBV and vaccine knowledge, risk behaviors, chronic illness, and access to clinic. Vaccination times were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six months after initiation of the study, 72% of 896 eligible participants had completed the vaccination series. The independent predictors of shorter time to completion were: higher estimated mean household income [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.25), white race (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01-1.58), female gender (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.31-1.92], and not having smoked cigarettes (OR for smoking in the past 30 days = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.60-0.92). Site of care, risk factors for acquiring HBV, disease and vaccine knowledge, and self-reported desire to complete the series were not associated with completion time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The primary factors associated with completion of immunization may not be amenable to intervention; mandated strategies for immunization may be more likely to result in protection for adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine Section, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Middleman
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Durant
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Emans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001900:Boston; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines