More likely to recommend to girls aged 13 to 15 than 11 to 12; cost cited as a barrier to vaccination
MONDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly all pediatricians and most family physicians were offering human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by 18 months after licensure, though fewer strongly recommend the vaccine for 11- and 12-year-olds than for 13- to 15-year-olds, according to research published online Aug. 2 in Pediatrics.
Matthew F. Daley, M.D., of the University of Colorado in Aurora, and colleagues conducted a survey of 429 pediatricians and 419 family physicians (response rates, 81 and 79 percent, respectively) to assess HPV vaccine practices in the United States 18 months after licensure. The survey was administered in early 2008.
The researchers found that most pediatricians (98 percent) and family physicians (88 percent) reported giving the vaccine in their offices. Significantly fewer of these physicians strongly recommended the vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old girls than recommended it to 13- to 15-year-old girls (pediatricians: 57 percent for the younger girls, 90 percent for the older girls; family physicians: 50 and 86 percent, respectively). Factors associated with this difference included the need to discuss sexuality before vaccine administration and having had more refusals among parents of the younger age group. The biggest barriers to HPV vaccination were financial, including the cost of the vaccine and insurance coverage issues.
"For primary care practitioners, financial concerns continue to be perceived as prominent barriers to the delivery of new vaccines. The high rates of vaccine use reported in this study were noted despite these financial concerns; some physicians who reported that vaccine purchase cost and reimbursement issues were definitely a barrier to vaccine use were nonetheless providing HPV vaccine in their offices," the authors write.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)