title: 'A false sense of security'? Understanding the role of the HPV vaccine on future cervical screening behaviour: a qualitative study of UK parents and girls of vaccination age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The UK Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme was introduced in 2008 for girls aged 12-13. The vaccine offers protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancers. Vaccinated girls will receive future invitations to the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, to prevent cancers associated with HPV types not included in the vaccine, and in case of prior infection with HPV 16 or 18. Little is known about parents' and girls' understandings of the protection offered by the vaccine, or the need for future screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interviews with twenty-six parents, and nine girls aged 12-13 who were offered HPV vaccination through a Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the South-east of England, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine schools, and four general practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uncertainty about the level of protection offered by the HPV vaccine was evident among parents, and to a lesser extent among vaccination-aged girls. There was a lack of understanding among parents and girls that cervical screening would be required irrespective of vaccination status; some parental decisions to accept the vaccine were made on the misunderstanding that vaccination provided complete protection against cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sufficient awareness of the issues related to screening is necessary for informed decision-making about whether or not to accept the HPV vaccine. Clearer information is needed concerning the incomplete protection offered by the vaccine, and that cervical screening will still be required. Future invitations for cervical screening should stress the necessity to attend regardless of HPV vaccination status, to ensure that high levels of prevention of cervical cancer through screening are maintained.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Primary Care EducationResearch Group, University of Oxford, 2nd Floor, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2ET, UK.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damery
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Austoker
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines