To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Perspectives on HPV vaccination among girls, boys, and parents in the Netherlands: a Q-methodological study

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the introduction of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in national immunization programs (NIPs), vaccination rates in most countries remain relatively low. An understanding of the reasons underlying decisions about whether to vaccinate is essential in order to promote wider spread of HPV vaccination. This is particularly important in relation to policies seeking to address shortfalls in current HPV campaigns. The aim of this study was to explore prevailing perspectives concerning HPV vaccination among girls, boys, and parents, and so to identify potential determinants of HPV vaccination decisions in these groups.MethodPerspectives were explored using Q-methodology. Forty-seven girls, 39 boys, and 107 parents in the Netherlands were asked to rank a comprehensive set of 35 statements, assembled based on the health belief model (HBM), according to their agreement with them. By-person factor analysis was used to identify common patterns in these rankings, which were interpreted as perspectives on HPV vaccination. These perspectives were further interpreted and described using data collected with interviews and open-ended questions.ResultsThe analysis revealed four perspectives: “prevention is better than cure,” “fear of unknown side effects,” “lack of information and awareness,” and “my body, my choice.” The first two perspectives and corresponding determinants of HPV vaccination decisions were coherent and distinct; the third and fourth perspectives were more ambiguous and, to some extent, incoherent, involving doubt and lack of awareness and information (perspective 3), and overconfidence (perspective 4).ConclusionsGiven the aim of publically funded vaccination programs to minimize the spread of HPV infection and HPV-related disease and the concerns about current uptake levels, our results indicate that focus should be placed on increasing awareness and knowledge, in particular among those in a modifiable phase.

Factors Associated with HPV Vaccine Refusal among Young Adult Women after Ten Years of Vaccine Implementation

“…Young women who reported fear of vaccine adverse events as the reason to refuse HPV vaccination were suffering from comorbidities and were critical of the roles of the pharmaceutical industry in HPV vaccination. Furthermore, their inclination to refuse HPV vaccination was dominated by fear of potential long-term side effects, in accordance with other findings [ 8 , 24 ]. Those young women were unlikely to accept HPV vaccination, as the perceived threat was minimal and the perceived barriers clearly outweighed any benefit.…”

“…In another study conducted in the Netherlands, lack of information can be interpreted as being in a modifiable phase for HPV vaccine acceptance, given the clear lack of vaccination preference and prevailing emotions regarding the topic. Those with this perspective are not likely to vaccinate against HPV, as they feel no sense of urgency in terms of perceived threat or benefit [ 24 ]. The provisions of unambiguous information about benefits of vaccination and risks of the disease, clarifying also doubts, fears, and risk of severe side-effects, were fundamental communicative strategies in influencing awareness of young women of HPV vaccination [ 4 ].…”

Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use

“…The same results were found in a study about perspectives on HPV vaccination among girls, boys, and parents. The results indicate that focus should be placed on increasing awareness and knowledge, in particular among those in a modifiable [16]. 76.67 % of students agree with the fact that HPV vaccination can prevent HPV infection, while 18 % of the nursing students' part of the study responded don't know.…”

Unveiling the controversy on egg freezing in The Netherlands: A Q-methodology study on women’s viewpoints

“…This particular approach has been used previously to explore controversial views in the field of health care in general [e.g. for human papillomavirus vaccination (Patty et al, 2017)], and has also been used to investigate sexual and reproductive health and the role of culture (Dune et al, 2017). Hence, this approach was considered useful to systematically analyse and describe the subjective viewpoints on egg freezing.…”