The HPV at the Abortion Visit: The Utility of Video Education [ID: 1377357

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is an important component of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and has the potential to completely eradicate cervical cancer. However, many women make it to adulthood without receiving a single vaccine. The abortion visit is an important health care access point for high-risk, unvaccinated individuals. METHODS: Patients (N=20) were recruited from the waiting room at a Chicago Planned Parenthood. Phase 1 included participants completing a 29-question assessment on HPV knowledge, HPV testing, and HPV vaccination. Phase 2 consisted of a randomized control trial of English-speaking patients, aged 18–26, presenting for a medication abortion (N=50). Primary outcome was uptake of vaccine; secondary was HPV knowledge via the same knowledge assessment tool used in phase 1. Patients were randomized to the interventional video or “usual care.” All patients were offered an HPV vaccine during medication abortion counseling. RESULTS: Knowledge scores significantly improved from preintervention (0.68 [±0.06]) to postintervention (0.77±0.05) (P=.03). Patients from the video intervention group demonstrated higher vaccine uptake (16%) compared to the “usual-care” group (0%) (P=.04). HPV knowledge assessment was significantly different between arms, with usual-care patients scoring 60% versus video intervention patients at 72%. CONCLUSION: There was significant improvement in knowledge assessment scores and vaccine uptake among the video intervention group. Video education is an effective tool in increasing HPV knowledge and uptake.