A brief educational intervention increases providers' human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Healthcare provider recommendation is crucial for increasing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake in the US.
• Existing gaps in provider knowledge regarding HPV and its vaccine are not fully understood, and interventions to address these gaps remain largely untested.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if a structured presentation could enhance healthcare providers' knowledge of the HPV vaccine.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention on HPV vaccine knowledge.

Main Methods:

• Knowledge levels of physicians, non-physician healthcare workers, and medical students were assessed before and after a 30-minute lecture.
• Paired t-tests and McNemar's tests were used for statistical analysis of pre- and post-intervention knowledge scores.
• Multiple linear regression analyses identified correlates of baseline knowledge and knowledge score changes.

Main Results:

• A total of 427 participants (75 physicians, 208 medical students, 144 other healthcare workers) completed pre- and post-tests.
• Baseline HPV vaccine knowledge was generally low across all groups, though higher in older participants and physicians/medical students.
• Knowledge scores significantly improved from an average of 8 to 15 (out of 16) post-presentation (P < .001), regardless of demographics or specialty.
• Younger participants and non-physician healthcare workers showed the most substantial knowledge gains.

Conclusions:

• A concise, structured presentation effectively increased HPV vaccine knowledge among diverse healthcare professionals.
• The intervention proved beneficial even for participants with initially low baseline knowledge.
• Targeted educational strategies can successfully address knowledge deficits and potentially improve vaccine recommendations.