The Role of the Media on Parental Confidence in Provider HPV Recommendation

Abstract

Background Despite a growing understanding of the importance of provider HPV recommendation on parental acceptance, US HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal. Given the prevalence and use of the media for health decisions, this study examined the relationship between the media and provider HPV recommendation on parental HPV vaccine hesitancy. Methods Thirty individual interviews with vaccine accepting mothers in the Midwest were conducted to examine their experiences with initial hesitancy to accept HPV vaccination at point of provider recommendation and their suggestions for improving the HPV vaccine patient/provider recommendation experience. Results Results found that the media served as an antecedent to hesitancy for three main vaccination concerns: protection, efficacy and sexual stigma. A model for understanding the influence of the media as it relates to the three topical HPV vaccination concerns and its process on parental HPV vaccine decision making emerged. Conclusions Findings suggest that mothers experience hesitancies from passive and active HPV vaccination media information that prompt confusion and fear with accepting provider HPV vaccination recommendation. Providers’ approach to HPV vaccination recommendation must consider concerns reported in the media with delivery techniques modified to adjust to parental fears absorbed from adverse media information.