"That Was an Eye Opener for Me": Mixed-Methods Outcomes Educating Texas Community Health Workers on HPV Vaccination...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes six types of cancer, preventable by vaccination.
• Community health workers (CHWs) can address vaccine hesitancy and reach underserved populations for HPV vaccination.
• Limited research exists on HPV vaccination education programs specifically for CHWs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the implementation and outcomes of the Mission: HPVCFT Vaccination ECHO-CHW Program.
• To assess the impact of the program on CHWs' knowledge, beliefs, and confidence regarding HPV vaccination.
• To explore the role of CHWs in driving HPV vaccination demand.

Main Methods:

• The American Cancer Society's HPV Cancer Free Texas (HPVCFT) Project implemented an eight-session ECHO-CHW Program.
• The program utilized the Project ECHO model and was delivered in English and Spanish.
• One hundred and forty-six CHWs completed pre- and post-training surveys.

Main Results:

• Participants showed significant increases in HPV vaccination knowledge.
• CHWs reported desirable shifts in beliefs, recognizing the HPV vaccine's role in cancer prevention.
• CHWs expressed increased confidence in communicating about HPV vaccination in their communities.

Conclusions:

• The ECHO-CHW program effectively improved CHWs' knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in HPV vaccination.
• Enhancing CHW capacity is a crucial first step toward addressing concerns and increasing HPV vaccine uptake.
• Further research is needed to integrate CHWs into vaccination delivery systems and patient referral pathways.