title: "It All Depends": A Qualitative Study of Parents' Views of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine for their Adolescents at Ages 11-12 years.
abstract: Routine vaccination with three doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescent girls and boys at 11 or 12 years of age; however, vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. To understand the reasons why parents may accept or refuse HPV vaccine for their children at age 11 or 12 years, we conducted a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents or guardians (n = 45) whose adolescents receive care at an urban, hospital-based primary care practice. Data were analyzed using an iterative thematic approach. We found that many parents expressed high levels of support for HPV vaccine, including a majority who agreed with vaccination at age 11-12 years. Parents recognized that for prevention of consequences of HPV infection, vaccination of their child early in adolescence was desirable conceptually. However, many parents also expressed that in practice, HPV vaccine should be given to adolescents at the onset of sexual activity, a perception that led to preferences to delay administration of HPV vaccine among certain parents. These apparently contradictory views indicate the need for interventions focused on the benefits of vaccination at the recommended ages. Our findings may be useful in providers' discussions with parents about the vaccine, as pediatric and adolescent health care providers have the unique opportunity to educate parents and clarify misconceptions about vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. caitlin.hansen@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Caitlin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.|Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Credle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.|Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA.|Department of Investigative Medicine, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Eugene D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.|Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, CT, USA.|Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Niccolai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010465:Perception; D011379:Prognosis; D036301:Qualitative Research; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: HPV; HPV vaccine; Qualitative