Multilevel Interventions May Boost HPV Vaccination Rates

FRIDAY, June 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Multilevel, provider-oriented interventions may improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series initiation and completion, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of Pediatrics.

Rebecca B. Perkins, M.D., from the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of a seven-session program (interprofessional provider education, communication training, data feedback, and tailored systems change). The program was delivered at five pediatric and/or family medicine practices between 2016 and 2018. Vaccination rates among 9- to 17-year-olds were compared for the preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods.

The researchers found that in the intervention and postintervention periods, the adjusted likelihood of vaccination at an eligible visit increased by >10 percentage points for ages 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 years, while completion of the vaccine series by age 13 years increased by 4 percentage points. Population-level vaccine initiation coverage increased from 75 percent preintervention to 90 percent postintervention. Completion increased from 60 percent preintervention to 69 percent postintervention.

“Because multilevel interventions require substantial investments of personnel and time in the short-term, demonstrating that intervention effects continue in the postintervention period is important when clinical and policy decision-makers consider upfront costs,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text