English, Welsh parents hesitant about HPV vaccination in boys

Takeaway

• English and Welsh parent awareness of HPV vaccine, inclusion of/intent to vaccinate adolescent boys remains low.

Why this matters

• Provide information about HPV cancer risks, vaccine safety/effectiveness to parents/decision-makers to address information lapses, hesitancy.

Key results

• 1049 participants; mean age, 40.5 years; 61% mothers.
• 55% had heard of HPV; 55% vs 23% aware of HPV vaccination for girls, boys, respectively.
• Significant differences noted in Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) stage by sex; 68.6% vs 55.9% parents of girls, boys, respectively, would vaccinate (P<.0001).
• Parents of boys likelier to be undecided (32.9% vs 27.9%, respectively).
• Major reasons for indecision: need more information (54%), side effects (33%).
• Multivariate, model 3: mothers likelier than fathers to vaccinate: OR, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.10-2.39).
• Past vaccine refusal equal across models 1, 2, 3 (OR, 4.96 [95% CI, 2.41-10.21]; 4.70 [2.31-9.57]; 4.77 [2.26-10.05], respectively).
• HPV vaccine attitudes strongest predictors of vaccination intent (OR, 60.96; 95% CI, 24.49-151.76).

Study design

• Cross-sectional, population-based survey evaluating English/Welsh parents’ HPV awareness, vaccination inclusion of boys.
• Multivariate analyses, 3 models, 1: pseudo R²=12% (parent/child sex, past refusal); 2: R²=21% (HPV/vaccine awareness); 3: R²=47% (vaccine attitudes).
• Funding: Cancer Research UK.

Limitations

• Sample bias.
• Inability to assess response rate.