Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research

The Korean Vaccine Society (대한백신학회)
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A survey of healthcare workers' recommendations about human papillomavirus vaccination

  • Hitomi Nishioka (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Prefecture Seiwa Medical Center) ;
  • Tomoko Onishi (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Taito Kitano (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Masahiro Takeyama (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Natsuko Imakita (Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Kei Kasahara (Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Ryuji Kawaguchi (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Jennifer Akiko Masaki (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University) ;
  • Keiji Nogami (Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University)
  • Received : 2022.03.07
  • Accepted : 2022.05.06
  • Published : 2022.05.31
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Abstract

Purpose: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is safe and effective for preventing HPV-related diseases. However, HPV vaccination rates in Japan are low because the "Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare" had stopped recommending vaccination. We assessed healthcare workers' (HCWs) current recommendations regarding the HPV vaccine and how the provision of information about HPV vaccination affected their recommendations. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted among nurses and physicians in Nara prefecture from March 2021 to July 2021. The questionnaire asked about their understanding, recommendations, and opinions regarding HPV vaccination. Before answering the last two questions (optional), the HCWs read evidence-based information quantifying the risks and benefits of HPV vaccination. Results: A total of 441 HCWs completed the questionnaire. Only 19% of HCWs always recommended HPV vaccination for girls aged 12-16 years. The evidence-based information significantly improved the percentage of HCWs who would "always recommend" vaccination. Conclusion: This study showed that the proportion of HCWs who recommend HPV vaccination to adolescent girls remains low in Japan. However, we found that evidence-based information describing the causal relationship between adverse events and vaccination, quantifying the risks and benefits, noting the importance of HCW communications with families, and reporting the recommendations of national societies, might increase HCWs' recommendations for HPV vaccination.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge Tomoko Hashiguchi (Department of Nursing, Nara Medical University) who efforted to disseminate our research, and we also acknowledge all healthcare workers who kindly participated in this study.

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