Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Delivery: A National Study of Parents and Their Adolescent Sons

PurposeWe examined parents' and adolescents' preferences regarding potential strategies to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates, including offering the vaccine in alternative settings, concomitant administration of vaccines, and optimizing the structure of vaccination medical visits.MethodsA national sample of U.S. parents of adolescent boys aged 11–17 years (n = 506) and their sons (n = 391) completed online surveys in August and September 2010. We used analysis of variance for mixed designs to examine preferences for vaccination settings.ResultsParents and sons were most comfortable with sons receiving HPV vaccine in a doctor's office. Parents of sons who had not visited their regular health care providers in the past year were more comfortable with sons receiving HPV vaccine at a public clinic (p < .001) or school (p < .05) compared with parents whose sons had recent visits. Results from the son survey showed a similar pattern. Parents and sons reported moderate levels of acceptability of concomitant administration. They most preferred to have the three HPV vaccine shots administered during brief nurse visits.ConclusionsOffering HPV vaccine in alternative settings and administering it with other recommended adolescent vaccines may increase uptake among adolescent boys. Parents and sons may prefer HPV vaccines be administered during brief nurse visits.