Angela Church Blake

Major: Nursing

Honors in Nursing

Supervisor: Dr. Julie Smith Taylor

PARENTAL ATTITUDES TOWARD HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) VACCINE AND ADOLESCENTS IN A COMMUNITY SETTING

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and the leading cause of cervical cancer. In 2006, the FDA approved the release of Gardasil® (a vaccine for protection against HPV) to be administered to girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. However, many adolescents remain unvaccinated with some authors speculating that parental acceptance may present a barrier to widespread vaccination programs. The purpose of this study was to identify parental attitudes toward the use of the HPV vaccine in adolescents in a community based primary care practice. A cross-sectional, descriptive design utilizing a convenience sample of 19 self-identified parents or primary caregivers of female children age 9 to 18 years was used to complete this study. Respondents completed an 18-item self-administered survey to determine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the HPV vaccine. Forty-seven percent (n=9) of the participants reported having at least one daughter between the ages of 9-18 who had already been vaccinated. Eighty-four percent (n=16) of the participants felt that teenage girls should get the vaccine, however, only 63% felt that pre-teen girls (ages 9-12) should receive the vaccine. Further, the majority (89%) reported following doctor recommendations regarding vaccines. Respondents were equally divided over whether or not parental consent for vaccination should be required. Overall, knowledge regarding HPV was quite high and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine were favorable in this group. Further, physician recommendation to vaccinate did seem to influence parental decision to vaccinate more than knowledge about HPV. Nurses have an obligation to provide fact based information regarding HPV that might have an impact on parental attitudes. Finally, nurses are in a key position to initiate dialogue and to facilitate parent conversations with health care providers regarding the protective effects of Gardasil®.