Campus Location

Dallas Campus (Online)

Date of Award

7-2024

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7185-296X

Document Type

DNP Project

Department

Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Dr. Faisal Aboul-Enein

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

Dr. Catherine Garner

Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection widely seen in the United States. Millions of Americans are affected by it each year, especially those in their late teens and early 20s. Although most infections will resolve on their own, 1 in 10 will lead to health problems such as cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of associated precancers and cancers. However, uptake of the HPV vaccine and its completion among adolescents are significantly lower than other recommended adolescent immunizations, falling short of the Healthy People 2030 goal of 80% coverage. Understanding parental attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about access to the HPV vaccine is crucial for developing targeted interventions to increase vaccine uptake because parents and guardians make health-based decisions for their children and adolescents. To gain insight, a community assessment was completed using a modified Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale survey in a quantitative crosssectional design supplemented with questions assessing perceptions of access. This assessment identified parents’ and guardians’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of access to the HPV vaccine. Over 8 weeks, participants, including parents or guardians of adolescent students in grades 6–8 in a large southwest U.S. school district, completed the questionnaire once. Results revealed significant factors contributing to low HPV immunization rates, including perceived barriers to access and misconceptions about the vaccine's efficacy and safety. The insights gained from this project can then be used to inform targeted interventions to enhance HPV immunization rates among students in the school district, contributing to the body of knowledge on strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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