Abstract
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a key intervention in the prevention of HPV infection and associated cancers. This review emphasizes the importance of understanding what influences decision-making about this vaccine. Guided by the work of Whittemore and Knafl, and Pluye and Hong, we identified 25 studies, from which four prominent themes emerged: fear and risk, pain, parental involvement, and involvement of others. Fear of cervical cancer was a strong motivation to receive the vaccine, and the extent of parental involvement also had an impact on decision-making. Recommendations to receive the vaccine by health-care providers were also an important influence. School nurses are fundamental to the promotion and delivery of the HPV vaccine and should stress the significant role that it plays in the prevention of cancer. Additionally, school nurses should ensure that discussions about HPV infection and vaccine include parents where appropriate and should distinctly recommend vaccination to those eligible.
Highlights
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection transmitted by direct contact with an infected individual (Public Health England [PHE], 2014)
Vaccinerelated fear was expressed in association with its novelty by Wakimizu et al (2015), but the HPV vaccine was not introduced in Japan until 2010–2011, which is later than other studies in this review, perhaps suggesting that familiarity and subsequent confidence in the vaccine increases with sustained use
Vaccination remains the most effective form of prevention against HPV infection, and this review has explored what influences young peoples’ decision-making
Summary
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection transmitted by direct contact with an infected individual (Public Health England [PHE], 2014). Three HPV vaccines are licensed; one offers protection against two virus types (16 and 18), while a second offers immunity against four (6, 11, 16, and 18; WHO, 2016). A third vaccine providing protection against an additional five types (31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) recently became available (Petrosky et al, 2015). These vaccines were introduced in many middle- to high-income countries in the mid-2000s, but with the support of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI, 2018), coverage is extending to low-income countries.
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