'It's a logistical nightmare!' Recommendations for optimising human papillomavirus school-based vaccination...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccination Programs
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• No prior studies examined procedural factors of school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs from stakeholder perspectives.
• This research addresses a gap by investigating perceived factors impacting the optimal vaccination experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine procedural factors influencing the school-based HPV vaccination program.
• To identify perceptions of an optimal vaccination experience among students, parents, teachers, and nurses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured focus groups with girls and one-on-one interviews with parents, teachers, and nurses.
• Participants were recruited from Sydney schools representing diverse vaccination coverage and school types.
• Thematic analysis of transcripts was conducted until data saturation was achieved.

Main Results:

• Themes emerged in two categories: preparation for the program and vaccination day strategies.
• Preparation themes included commitment, planning time/space, inter-agency communication, and flexibility.
• Vaccination day themes involved prioritizing anxious girls, peer support, distraction techniques, minimizing wait times, and support staff.

Conclusions:

• Diverse views exist on optimal school-based vaccination programs.
• Findings offer considerations for developing implementation guidelines.
• Future research should assess the impact of consent approaches and anxiety reduction strategies on experience and uptake.