Boot camp translation: A novel method to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is safe and highly effective, yet HPV vaccination uptake remains suboptimal, necessitating novel interventions. Our objective was to describe the impact of a novel method of community-based participatory research, Boot Camp Translation (BCT), on HPV vaccination uptake.

In a quasi-experimental matched-case-control study, we applied BCT to HPV-focused intervention programs for 9-17-year-olds in 6 pediatric clinics in 3 counties in Colorado from 6/2020 to 2/2021. In a 6-month BCT process, providers, clinic staff, parents, and adolescent patients collaboratively designed messages and campaigns to implement in their clinics. Control clinics (n = 16) were identified from the same county as intervention clinics and matched on number of patients and percentage of patients eligible for the Vaccine for Children (VFC) program. Baseline and post-intervention (each defined for a period of 6 months) HPV vaccination rates were estimated for each intervention and control clinic. Rates were compared using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for the time-by-treatment interaction effect through hierarchical logistic regression models.

There were 15,764 youths in intervention clinics and 33,155 in controls. HPV vaccine initiation and completion increased in both groups with greater improvement in initiation in intervention clinics compared to controls (intervention: 45.9 % to 56.7 %, control: 44.6 to 52.8 %; p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, percent VFC-eligibility, baseline rates, and clinic size, the odds ratio for initiation of the HPV vaccine series, baseline versus post-intervention, was 1.80 in intervention clinics (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.71, 1.90) and 1.54 in control clinics (95 % CI, 1.49, 1.60) (interaction, p < 0.0001). For completion of the series, the odds in intervention clinics were 1.72 (95 % CI, 1.63, 1.82) and 1.52 (95 % CI, 1.47, 1.58) in control clinics (interaction, p < 0.0001).

Boot Camp Translation is a promising method for increasing uptake of HPV vaccination in clinic settings.