ASPO Abstracts
Parent and Childhood Cancer Survivor Experiences with and Barriers to HPV Vaccination
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Background: Childhood cancer survivors have lower HPV vaccination initiation rates than the general population. HPV-associated cancers are 40% higher among female and 150% higher among male survivors compared to the general population. Improving HPV vaccination uptake among childhood cancer survivors is essential to preventing second cancers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with adult survivors of cancer and parents of younger survivors to evaluate their experiences with and barriers to HPV vaccination, as well as their recommendations on pathways to series completion.
Methods: Eligible survivors were ages 18-26 years, completed treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital or Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2013-18, and were age eligible for the HPV vaccine. Eligible parents were at least 18 years of age, and the parent of a survivor who met eligibility criteria. Interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Results: Survivors (N=10) were primarily female (60%), non-Hispanic white (90%), and on average 21.2 years of age (range 18-23). Half were HPV vaccinated (50%). Parents (N=10) were female (90%), ages 30-59 years (60%), and non-Hispanic white (80%). Of parents, 30% reported their survivor had received the HPV vaccine. Among the vaccinated group (n=8), 100% reported that a provider recommended the vaccine. Among the n=12 unvaccinated group, only 1 (8.3%) reported receiving a recommendation. Three themes emerged about HPV vaccination among the unvaccinated participants: 1)Participants reported that they lacked adequate information on the vaccine, which limited their decision making ability. 2)Participants felt that receiving a recommendation from their oncologist was essential to vaccine receipt, because they understood survivors’ complex health history better than general practitioners. 3)Participants generally felt that vaccine reminders via text or email would result in the survivor getting vaccinated.
Conclusions: HPV vaccination is an important opportunity to prevent second cancers in young survivors. Our results demonstrate that survivors and parents feel that oncologists should play an essential role in promoting the HPV vaccine. Additionally, reminder systems are necessary to help survivors complete the multi-dose HPV vaccine series.
Keywords: Survivors, HPV vaccine