85 - Receptiveness to Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Counseling and Administration During Dental Visits
Friday, April 28, 2023
5:15 PM – 7:15 PM ET
Poster Number: 85 Publication Number: 85.149
Luis C. Barrientos, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States; Sarah Shortall, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Centennial, CO, United States; Jessica Jack, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States
Medical Student University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver, Colorado, United States
Background: Despite efforts to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations, the vaccination rates remain below the Healthy People 2030 target of 80% compliance. The American Dental Association urges oral health providers (OHP) to support the use and administration of the HPV vaccine. Additionally, children aged nine years and older have more visits with OHPs than physicians per year. However, parents' receptiveness to HPV vaccination by OHPs has been minimally studied. Objective: This project aims to understand parents' perspectives in discussing and receiving HPV vaccines during a visit with an OHP in a clinic implementing medical-dental integration for HPV vaccination. Design/Methods: A 42-item validated survey was adapted and administered to parents (N=101) of patients ages 9-17. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and surveyed after dental appointments in integrated healthcare clinics at a large, urban, federally qualified healthcare center. Data was reported on a 3-5 Likert scale and then analyzed. Results: 44.3% (N=101) of all eligible patients were surveyed. 79.2% and 87.1% of parents report wanting to discuss the HPV vaccine and side effects, respectively, with OHPs (figure 1). 19.8% of parents surveyed reported being counseled on the HPV vaccine during their dental visit. Of the families who were counseled, 60.0% opted for same-day vaccination (figure 2), and 95.0% of families reported feeling "more comfortable" or "neither more or less comfortable" with their OHP after vaccine counseling (figure 3).
Conclusion(s): After counseling, parents are receptive to same-day vaccination and report increased confidence in their OHP. This trust can be leveraged during dental visits to encourage HPV vaccination, and this data can be utilized to drive policy to include OHPs as vaccinators against HPV, ultimately increasing HPV vaccine access and completion rates.
