Prospective Multi-Institutional Study of A Provider-Free Educational Intervention to Increase Point-of-Care Adult HPV...

To test if a targeted provider-free digital educational intervention increases interest in adults receiving HPV vaccination.

In this nonrandomized prospective study previously unvaccinated adults (ages 18-45) were surveyed about their willingness to undergo HPV vaccination before and after targeted educational intervention. Data were collected between March 2023 and March 2024 in 2 separate otolaryngology clinics located in Boston, MA. The intervention educated patients about HPV and OPSCC and the role of HPV vaccination in preventing HPV + OPSCC. Subjects interested in vaccination received point-of-care vaccination when meeting vaccination criteria. Interest in vaccination and vaccination rate before and after provided intervention. Gender, race, education, and age ranges as predictors of interest in vaccination are compared using odds ratios.

Preintervention interest in vaccination was 32.7% (101/309). In subjects not interested in vaccination, provider-free digital intervention led to vaccination acceptance in 17.3% (35/201) of patients (total vaccination rate 44.0% (136/309)). Non-white participants were 2.5 times more likely to be interested in vaccination after intervention compared to white participants.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates remain significantly below other common childhood vaccines, which has implications for future rates of HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC). Patients are more likely to be vaccinated against HPV if they are aware of its association with OPSCC. Use of a provider-free digital intervention at the point-of-care increases desire for vaccination, and this may be more effective in non-white participants.

Tailored educational provider-free interventions linking HPV infection to head and neck cancer coupled with point-of-care vaccination increases rates of HPV vaccination in unvaccinated adult patients.