US medical students' willingness to offer the HPV vaccine by vaccination status. Issue 9 (1st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berenson, Abbey B.; Hirth, Jacqueline M.; Fuchs, Erika L.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 35:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 1212
• Page End: 1215
• Publication Date: 2017-03-01
• Subjects: Human papillomavirus (HPV) -- HPV vaccine -- Medical students -- Cancer prevention -- Attitudes -- Self-care; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: Less than 50% of third-year medical students at a Texas university had initiated the HPV vaccine. Unvaccinated students indicated they prefer to wait until age 15 or 16 to offer the vaccine. Vaccinated students had greater commitment to recommending the vaccine at every opportunity. Abstract: We surveyed third-year medical students to assess whether personal vaccination status was associated with willingness to recommend the human papillomavirus vaccine to patients. A total of 231 students completed an anonymous survey evaluating their knowledge, attitudes, and personal vaccine history. Of 122 female students, 81 (66.4%) reported initiating the vaccine, as did 16 of 109 males (14.7%). Females and students ⩽25 years old were more likely to be vaccinated. Knowledge did not vary by vaccination status, but anticipated behaviors did. Vaccinated students reported greater willingness to vaccinate adolescents before 15–16 years of age (92.1% vs. 78.6%, p = 0.008) and discuss vaccination at any type of medical visit (100% vs. 89.7%, p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that prior experiences with the HPV vaccine may influence a provider's future actions. Thus, interventions that increase awareness of this relationship as well as vaccination rates among health care students may be beneficial.