178169 Influences on decision making for the HPV vaccine among Blacks and Hispanics in New York City

Monday, October 27, 2008: 11:40 AM

Danielle C. Ompad, PhD , Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Ann Boyer, MD , Department of Community/Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
Ann-Gel S. Palermo , Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Abby Rudolph, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Silvia Amesty, MD, MPH, MSEd , Center for Family and Community Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
David Vlahov, PhD , Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Cervical Health Intervention Working Group Harlem Community and Academic Partnership , Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical neoplasia worldwide. An HPV vaccine has been available since 2006. Understanding what influences the decision to receive the vaccine is critical. A community-based sample of 250 people aged ≥18 years were recruited in New York City between 10/2006 and 9/2007. The sample was 34% women, 48% Black, 39% Hispanic, and 6% White; the mean age was 39.8 years. 35% had heard of the HPV vaccine (52% heard from television and 13% from a doctor or other health care provider). The most commonly reported influences on the decision to get vaccinated included unknown long term side effects (51%), fear of bad side effects (50%), short term side effects (48%), vaccine safety (46%), scientific evidence/governmental support of the vaccine (44%), danger related to vaccines in general (40%), pain or discomfort from shots (39%), physician or nurse recommendation (37%), and STD-related stigma (32%). When asked a hypothetical question about vaccination of a daughter or son, 68% and 64% would try to get their child vaccinated, respectively. These preliminary data suggest that the HPV vaccine will be a highly sought after vaccine. However, there are factors that might deter people from getting the vaccine, including concern about side effects, vaccine safety, and STD-related stigma. Future studies using a community-based participatory research approach should examine whether these influences are specific to the HPV vaccine or apply to vaccines in general and whether the same influences are salient for parental decision making.

Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate potential influences on the decision to get the HPV vaccine. 2. Discuss how influences may differ for an individual's decision to get vaccinated as comapred to maing the decision for a child

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceived, designed, implemented and analyzed the data presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Merck HPV vaccine KAB research grant recipient

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.