Successful Multi-Level HPV Vaccination Intervention at a Rural Healthcare Center in the Era of COVID-19

Opportunities and challenges encountered in managing cervical cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic, while putting pressure on the global healthcare system, has had a significant impact on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities presented to cervical cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide lessons for better coping with cervical cancer in future pandemics.

METHODS

The search terms included the following: SARS-CoV-2 and/or COVID-19 with cervical cancer and HPV. The initial literature search began on June 1, 2022 and ended on March 1, 2023.

OUTCOME

COVID-19 has hindered the cervical cancer screening, delayed the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer, increased the public's anxiety, and negatively affected the management of cervical cancer. However, the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic has promoted the development of new human papillomavirus (HPV) tests and improved the rates of HPV self-sampling, offering a small window of opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In the next few years, the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end, and the eradication of cervical cancer should always be carried out. We should draw lessons and experience from this global pandemic, and make efforts for the subsequent eradication of cervical cancer.

Understanding Clinic and Community Member Experiences with Implementation of Evidence-Based Strategies for HPV Vaccination in Safety-Net Primary Care Settings

HPV vaccination rates remain below target levels among adolescents in the United States, which is particularly concerning in safety-net populations with persistent disparities in HPV-associated cancer burden. Perspectives on evidence-based strategies (EBS) for HPV vaccination among key implementation participants, internal and external to clinics, can provide a better understanding of why these disparities persist. We conducted virtual interviews and focus groups, guided by the Practice Change Model, with clinic members (providers, clinic leaders, and clinic staff) and community members (advocates, parents, policy-level, and payers) in Los Angeles and New Jersey to understand common and divergent perspectives on and experiences with HPV vaccination in safety-net primary care settings. Fifty-eight interviews and seven focus groups were conducted (n = 65 total). Clinic members (clinic leaders n = 7, providers n = 12, and clinic staff n = 6) revealed conflicting HPV vaccine messaging, lack of shared motivation to reduce missed opportunities and improve workflows, and non-operability between clinic electronic health records and state immunization registries created barriers for implementing effective strategies. Community members (advocates n = 8, policy n = 11, payers n = 8, and parents n = 13) described lack of HPV vaccine prioritization among payers, a reliance on advocates to lead national agenda setting and facilitate local implementation, and opportunities to support and engage schools in HPV vaccine messaging and adolescents in HPV vaccine decision-making. Participants indicated the COVID-19 pandemic complicated prioritization of HPV vaccination but also created opportunities for change. These findings highlight design and selection criteria for identifying and implementing EBS (changing the intervention itself, or practice-level resources versus external motivators) that bring internal and external clinic partners together for targeted approaches that account for local needs in improving HPV vaccine uptake within safety-net settings.

An Exploratory Study of Rural Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes About HPV Vaccination Following a Healthcare Visit With Their Child's Primary Care Provider

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Annually, HPV infections result in $775 million in direct medical costs and approximately 46 000 new cases of HPV-associated cancers. Safe and highly effective vaccines have been available to prevent HPV for children/adolescents since 2006. Vaccination rates remain low, especially in rural areas. Parental attitudes and beliefs affect HPV vaccination rates.

METHODS

We developed, tested, and administered a survey that asked how parents and healthcare providers interacted about the HPV vaccine following a healthcare visit with an age-eligible child, as part of a multicomponent randomized controlled trial designed to improve HPV vaccination rates in rural Oregon. The 21-item survey assessed parents' information-seeking behavior, knowledge about HPV cancer risk reduction, the HPV vaccine series, and their vaccine confidence.

RESULTS

Forty-three participants (59.7%) were in the intervention group; 29 (40.3%) were controls. Over 90% of healthcare visits were illness, injury, sports physical, or well-child visits (n = 67 or 93.1%), and 6.9% of visits were vaccine-specific. No statistically significant differences were found between study groups for healthcare visits. Over half the parents reported having discussions about HPV and the HPV vaccine (54.5%) with their care providers, 31.3% had recently learned about HPV, HPV risks, and the HPV vaccine prior to the visit, 83.1% were knowledgeable about cancers associated with HPV, and 79.2% were considering vaccinating their child(ren), which did not differ between study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge about HPV-related cancers and consideration for vaccinating children was higher than expected, but not associated with the intervention tested.

Vaccine uptake and barriers to vaccination among at-risk adult populations in the US

To reduce morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD), it is imperative that vaccination programs are implemented and prioritized throughout all stages of life across all populations. This study aimed to determine vaccine uptake and barriers to vaccination against VPDs among at-risk adult populations in the United States. We conducted a systematic literature review for articles published between January 2010 and June 2020 and identified 153 publications. The review identified 17 at-risk populations. Vaccine uptake was suboptimal among many populations, with factors including age, gender, and disease severity, associated with uptake. This review identified several barriers that impact vaccine uptake among at-risk populations, with concerns over safety, vaccine costs, lack of insurance, and lack of provider recommendation commonly reported across populations. Embracing a national life-course immunization framework that integrates developing policies, guidelines, and education would be a step to addressing these barriers.

Cervical Cancer Prevention in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. CC prevention is based on screening and HPV vaccination. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties in implementing CC-preventative measures. The aim of this study was to collect data on the implementation of CC prophylaxis in Poland provided by public and private health care with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and attempt to estimate the level of CC-screening implementation by 2026 under public and private health care. Materials and Methods: Data on the implementation of privately funded (2016-2021) and publicly funded (2014-2021) CC-preventative measures in Poland were examined. The Prophet algorithm, which positions itself as an automatic forecasting procedure and represents a local Bayesian structural time-series model, was used to predict data. The correlation test statistic was based on Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and follows a t distribution. An asymptotic confidence interval was given based on Fisher's Z transform. Results: In 2021, a significantly higher population screening coverage was observed in private health care (71.91%) than in the public system (12.6%). Our estimation assumes that the adverse downward trend of population coverage (pap smear CC screening) in the public system will continue to 5.02% and in the private health system to 67.92% in 2026. Correlation analysis showed that with the increase in the sum of HPV tests and LBC, the percentage of Pap smear coverage in the private healthcare sector decreases r = -0.62, p = 0.260 df = 3, CI = [-0.97, 0.57]. The amount of HPV vaccinations provided in private health care is steadily increasing. Immunization coverage of the population of girls aged 9-18 years under private health care at the end of the observation period was 4.3% (2021). Conclusions: It is necessary to reorganize the public CC-screening system in Poland based on a uniform reporting system for tests performed in both public and private health care using the model of action proposed by us. We recommend the introduction of a national free HPV vaccination program funded by the government and implemented in public and private health care facilities.

Emerging Disparities in Prevention and Survival Outcomes for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer and Recommendations for Health Equity

Purpose of Review

The aim of this review is to describe less known and emerging disparities found in the prevention and survival outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) that are likely to play an increasingly important role in HNC outcomes and health inequities.

Recent Findings

The following factors contribute to HNC incidence and outcomes: (1) the effect of rurality on prevention and treatment of HNC, (2) dietary behavior and nutritional factors influencing the development of and survival from HNC, and (3) barriers and benefits of telehealth for patients with HNC.

Summary

Rurality, nutrition and diet, and telehealth usage and access are significant contributors to the existing health disparities associated with HNC. Population and culturally specific interventions are urgently needed as well as more research to further define the issues and develop appropriate population and individual level solutions.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in South Africa: Programmatic Challenges and Opportunities for Integration With Other Adolescent Health Services?

Compared to other regions of the world, sub-Saharan Africa has made limited progress in the implementation and performance of nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes. Without urgent intervention, this will serve to undermine cervical cancer elimination efforts in this region. The primary intent of this narrative review is to highlight the programmatic successes and challenges of the school-based HPV vaccination programme in South Africa since its inception in 2014, with the aim of contributing to the evidence base needed to accelerate implementation and improve programme performance in other sub-Saharan African countries. As of 2020, the proportion of adolescent girls aged 15 years who had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine at any time between ages 9–14 years was 75%, while 61% had completed the full recommended two-dose schedule. This gives some indication of the reach of the South African HPV vaccination programme over the past 6 years. Despite this, vaccine coverage and dose completion rates have persistently followed a downward trend, slowing progress toward attaining global elimination targets. There is evidence suggesting that declining public demand for the HPV vaccine may be a result of weakening social mobilization over time, inadequate reminder and tracking systems, and vaccine hesitancy. Another concern is the disproportionate burden of HPV and HIV co-infections among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa, which predisposes them to early development of invasive cervical cancer. Moving forward, national policy makers and implementers will have to explore reforms to current age eligibility criteria and vaccine dose schedules, as well as implement strategies to support vaccine uptake among populations like out-of-school girls, girls attending private schools, and HIV positive young women. Additional opportunities to strengthen the South African HPV vaccination programme can be achieved by scaling up the co-delivery of other adolescent health services such as comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights education, deworming, and health screening. This calls for reinforcing implementation of the integrated school health policy and leveraging existing adolescent health programmes and initiatives in South Africa. Ultimately, establishing tailored, adolescent-centered, integrated health programmes will require guidance from further operational research.