title: HPV vaccination of boys in primary care practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In October 2011, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV4) for the routine immunization schedule for 11- to 12-year-old boys. Before October 2011, HPV4 was permissively recommended for boys. We conducted a study in 2010 to provide data that could guide efforts to implement routine HPV4 immunization in boys. Our objectives were to describe primary care physicians': 1) knowledge and attitudes about human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease and HPV4, 2) recommendation and administration practices regarding HPV vaccine in boys compared to girls, 3) perceived barriers to HPV4 administration in boys, and 4) personal and practice characteristics associated with recommending HPV4 to boys.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a mail and Internet survey in a nationally representative sample of pediatricians and family medicine physicians from July 2010 to September 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 72% (609 of 842). Most physicians thought that the routine use of HPV4 in boys was justified. Although it was permissively recommended, 33% recommended HPV4 to 11- to 12-year-old boys and recommended it more strongly to older male adolescents. The most common barriers to HPV4 administration were related to vaccine financing. Physicians who reported recommending HPV4 for 11- to 12-year-old boys were more likely to be from urban locations, perceive that HPV4 is efficacious, perceive that HPV-related disease is severe, and routinely discuss sexual health with 11- to 12-year-olds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most physicians support HPV4 for boys, physician education and evidence-based tools are needed to improve implementation of a vaccination program for males in primary care settings.
authors.affiliation: Children's Outcomes Research Program , Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO; Department of Pediatrics , Colorado School of Public Health , Colorado Health Outcomes Program , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: mandy.allison@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Mandy A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Eileen F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: Lauri E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Sean T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stokley
authors.forename: Christine I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Babbel
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brtnikova
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Beaty
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kempe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: HPV vaccine; immunization; physician attitudes