Many studies have been undertaken to review the attitudes around HPV vaccination. To date, the vaccination rate in the US remains well below the Healthy People 2030 goal of 80%. The latest data shows 58.5% of adolescents 13-15 years old receive the HPV vaccine in the US. In Oklahoma, the vaccination rate for adolescents ages 13-15 is 46.2% vaccination rate. Systematic reviews have cited concerns from parents about the vaccines effect on sexual behavior, lack of information about the vaccine and, importantly, the perceived low risk of HPV in their child or adolescent. Other specific concerns from caregivers of adolescents include vaccine side effects, unknown ingredients in the vaccine, and concern that their child receives too many vaccines. Knowledge about HPV in general is decreasing and this will likely affect vaccine rates. Many studies have examined how to improve attitudes toward vaccination in populations such as physicians, medical students and parents, but no studies have been done to assess the likelihood for patients with HPV-related disease to recommend vaccination to their family members.

We hypothesize that females being treated for HPV related disease will have a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination and be highly likely to recommend the vaccine to their family members.

Women who are presenting to the OU Health Partners Dysplasia Clinic will be approached to participate in a survey study regarding their attitudes toward HPV vaccination. Surveys are distributed on paper, collected by the investigators and stored securely. Demographic Data and survey answers were entered and analyzed using RedCap.

91.2% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that vaccines are necessary to protect the health of young people. 88% of participants agreed that vaccines do a good job at preventing the disease that they intend to prevent. 70.7% agreed or strongly agreed that vaccines are safe. 32.8% disagreed or strongly disagreed that newer vaccines carry more risks. 48.2% agreed or strongly agreed to the statement “I am concerned about the serious adverse effects of vaccines.” 88.9% agree or strongly agree that medical professionals have their child/teenager’s best interest at heart. 8.42% agree or strongly agree that the info they receive about vaccines from health care providers are reliable and trustworthy. 72.2% agree or strongly agree that the vaccine is safe. 63.8% agree or strongly agree that it is effective. 84.2% agree or strongly agree to the statement “I would recommend the HPV vaccine to my family members.” 80% agreed to strongly agreed to the statement “I am more likely now than previously to recommend HPV vaccination to my family members.” 16.1% of participants have received the HPV vaccine. Out of the participants who are eligible, 57% of the participants have had teens/children who received the vaccine.

Most people believed that vaccines are necessary and effective. Having a diagnosis of a dysplasia related disease makes patients more likely to recommend HPV vaccine. However, even in a dysplasia specific population, the rates of child/teen vaccination mirror the national average.