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Pharmacies versus doctors' offices for adolescent vaccination.
Parth D Shah1, Macary W Marciniak2, Shelley D Golden3
1The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, United States; Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, United States.
Vaccine
|May 12, 2018
Summary
Pharmacies offer accessible HPV vaccination for adolescents, but parents perceive doctor's offices as having a better healthcare environment. Enhancing pharmacy environments can increase HPV vaccine uptake.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Adolescent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is crucial for cancer prevention.
- Understanding parental perceptions of vaccine delivery settings is key to improving uptake.
- Pharmacies are increasingly recognized as accessible sites for adolescent immunizations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare parental perceptions of HPV vaccine delivery in pharmacies versus doctors' offices.
- To identify factors influencing parental willingness to have adolescents vaccinated at pharmacies.
Main Methods:
- A national online survey of 1500 U.S. parents of adolescents aged 11-17.
- Diffusion of Innovation Theory guided the assessment of perceived relative advantages.
- Regression analysis examined predictors of willingness for pharmacy-based vaccination.
Main Results:
- Parents perceived doctors' offices as superior in healthcare environment (privacy, safety).
- Parents viewed pharmacies as more accessible (less time, convenient hours).
- Increased perceived advantages of pharmacy delivery and importance of accessibility predicted higher willingness for pharmacy vaccination.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacies should leverage their accessibility advantage for HPV vaccine delivery.
- Enhancing the perceived healthcare environment in pharmacies is essential for greater parental acceptance.
- A dual approach focusing on accessibility and environment can boost pharmacy-based HPV vaccination.