Pharmacists' Attitudes and Perceived Barriers to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Services.

Tessa Hastings,Salisa Westrick,Stuart Mcfarland,Lindsey Hohmann,Benjamin Teeter

doi:10.3390/pharmacy5030045

Abstract

Use of non-traditional settings such as community pharmacies has been suggested to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and completion rates. The objectives of this study were to explore HPV vaccination services and strategies employed by pharmacies to increase HPV vaccine uptake, pharmacists’ attitudes towards the HPV vaccine, and pharmacists’ perceived barriers to providing HPV vaccination services in community pharmacies. A pre-piloted mail survey was sent to 350 randomly selected community pharmacies in Alabama in 2014. Measures included types of vaccines administered and marketing/recommendation strategies, pharmacists’ attitudes towards the HPV vaccine, and perceived system and parental barriers. Data analysis largely took the form of descriptive statistics. 154 pharmacists completed the survey (response rate = 44%). The majority believed vaccination is the best protection against cervical cancer (85.3%), HPV is a serious threat to health for girls (78.8%) and boys (55.6%), and children should not wait until they are sexually active to be vaccinated (80.1%). Perceived system barriers included insufficient patient demand (56.5%), insurance plans not covering vaccination cost (54.8%), and vaccine expiration before use (54.1%). Respondents also perceived parents to have inadequate education and understanding about HPV infection (86.6%) and vaccine safety (78.7%). Pharmacists have positive perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine. Barriers related to system factors and perceived parental concerns must be overcome to increase pharmacist involvement in HPV vaccinations.

Highlights

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important public health issue
Almost 80 million people are infected with HPV in the United States, and most sexually active individuals will contract some form of HPV during their lifetime [1]
The objectives of this study were to explore: (1) the extent to which HPV vaccination services are currently being offered in community pharmacies as well as strategies to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine; (2) pharmacists’ attitudes towards the HPV vaccine; and (3) perceived barriers to the provision of HPV vaccination services in community pharmacies

Summary

Introduction

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important public health issue. Almost 80 million people are infected with HPV in the United States, and most sexually active individuals will contract some form of HPV during their lifetime [1]. HPV strains 16 and 18 cause over 70% of cervical cancer cases [2]. Three types of HPV vaccine are currently approved in the U.S to prevent infection with these HPV strains: Gardasil® (for girls and boys age 9–26 years), Gardasil 9® (for girls age 9–26 years and boys age 9–15 years), and Cervarix® (for girls age 9–25 years) [2]. In addition to strains 16 and 18, Gardasil® and Gardasil 9® protect against several additional less common cancer-causing strains [2]. Guidelines recommend administration of one of these vaccines as a three-dose series beginning at 11 years of age [2]. Despite this recommendation, adolescent HPV vaccination rates remain low

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Conclusion