School Nurses' Experiences of the School-Based HPV Vaccination Program - A Decade Later

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Research
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is crucial for preventing HPV-related cancers.
• School nurses play a vital role in administering vaccinations and educating students and parents.
• Understanding school nurses' perspectives is essential for optimizing vaccination programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Swedish school nurses' experiences with HPV vaccination.
• To assess changes in their self-perceived knowledge and attitudes since 2016.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing HPV vaccination delivery.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, repeated questionnaire study design was employed.
• Data collection included quantitative surveys and thematic analysis of open-ended responses.
• 344 school nurses participated, with results compared to a 2016 study.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in favorable attitudes and self-perceived knowledge regarding HPV vaccination was observed compared to 2016.
• Nearly half of the nurses reported a need for additional education on HPV vaccination.
• Key barriers identified include inadequate training, inconsistent guidelines, limited information resources, and time constraints.

Conclusions:

• While attitudes and knowledge have improved, targeted educational interventions are needed for school nurses.
• Standardized guidelines are essential for addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring informed consent.
• Supporting school nurses is critical for successful implementation of national immunization programs and HPV prevention.