Improving human papillomavirus vaccine delivery: a national study of parents and their adolescent sons.
OBJECTIVE
We examined parents' and adolescents' preferences regarding potential strategies to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates, including offering the vaccine in alternative settings, concomitant administration of vaccines, and optimizing the structure of vaccination medical visits.


METHODS
A national sample of U.S. parents of adolescent boys aged 11-17 years (n = 506) and their sons (n = 391) completed online surveys in August and September 2010. We used analysis of variance for mixed designs to examine preferences for vaccination settings.


RESULTS
Parents and sons were most comfortable with sons receiving HPV vaccine in a doctor's office. Parents of sons who had not visited their regular health care providers in the past year were more comfortable with sons receiving HPV vaccine at a public clinic (p < .001) or school (p < .05) compared with parents whose sons had recent visits. Results from the son survey showed a similar pattern. Parents and sons reported moderate levels of acceptability of concomitant administration. They most preferred to have the three HPV vaccine shots administered during brief nurse visits.


CONCLUSIONS
Offering HPV vaccine in alternative settings and administering it with other recommended adolescent vaccines may increase uptake among adolescent boys. Parents and sons may prefer HPV vaccines be administered during brief nurse visits.
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43201, USA. Paul.Reiter@osumc.edu
Paul L
PL
Reiter
Annie-Laurie
AL
McRee
Jessica K
JK
Pepper
Kim
K
Chantala
Noel T
NT
Brewer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010290:Parents; D057240:Patient Preference
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines