Parents' involvement in the human papillomavirus vaccination decision for their sons

- Parents report that they themselves and their partners should be highly involved in their sons' HPV vaccine decision.
- Parents' view of son's involvement was moderate and influenced by sons' age.
- Gender differences were found for self and partner involvement, with small effect sizes.
- Mothers want fathers' to be involved in their sons' healthcare, which fathers' endorse.
- HCPs can apply a triad HPV vaccine decision-making model involving both parents and child.

ObjectivesParents are critical to ensure sufficient human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. No studies to date have examined how mothers and fathers perceive their own, their partners' and their sons' involvement in HPV vaccination decision-making process.MethodsAn online survey methodology was used to collect data from a national sample of Canadian parents (33% fathers, 67% mothers, Mage = 44) who had a 9-16 years old son (n = 3117).Main outcome measuresParent's perception of their self-involvement, partner-involvement and son's involvement in the decision to get their son the HPV vaccine were measured on a Likert scale and were classified as 'no involvement', 'moderate involvement' and 'high involvement'.ResultsMothers and fathers both perceive that they themselves and their partners should be highly involved in their son's HPV vaccination decision. Son's involvement was reported as moderate and influenced by age. Significant gender differences were found for self and partner involvement, but the effect sizes were small.ConclusionMothers and fathers both perceive that they themselves and their partners should be significantly involved in their son's HPV vaccination decision. A dyad decision-making model involving both parents for HPV vaccine decision-making is suggested with a stronger recommendation for a triad decision-making model involving both parents as well as the child/adolescent. Gender stereotypes of females perceiving themselves as the sole decision-maker or fathers not wanting to be involved in their children's health decision were not supported.