Are health care providers making the most of patient encounters to promote HPV vaccination among cigarette smokers?
Lisa T Wigfall, Ledric D Sherman, Whitney R Garney and 3 others
PMID 31383561WHAT IT FOUND
Provider communication about HPV vaccine did not differ by adult smoking status.
Current, former, and nonsmoking adults were similarly unlikely to recall a vaccine discussion or recommendation.
Key findings
01Current, former, and nonsmoking adults did not report significantly different levels of provider communication about or recommendation for the HPV vaccine.
0227% reported talking to a provider about HPV vaccine, and 24% reported a provider recommendation for an immediate family member aged 9 to 27 in the past year.
03Recalling provider communication about HPV vaccine was associated with greater awareness of HPV and knowledge that it can cause cervical, anal, oral, and penile cancers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that provider communication caused better HPV knowledge. Participants reported provider communication from memory, and no medical records or clinic recordings confirmed it. The survey did not identify provider type or specialty, so it is unclear whether the provider was the respondent's own clinician or a child's pediatrician. The survey did not record how many HPV vaccine doses were received. It could not determine whether the patient or provider initiated the HPV vaccine discussion. Exact ages and relationships of household members aged 27 or younger were not recorded, so their role in vaccine decisions was unknown. The response rate was 32.39%, and only 725 of 3,285 respondents met the study criteria. The sample was mostly Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black, so it may not represent all groups.
Declared interests
The article declares no conflicts of interest. The supplied publication types list NIH extramural research support, but the text does not state the sponsor's role.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that providers are giving smokers the HPV counseling they need. The study found no difference by smoking status, and only 24% reported a provider recommendation.