Examining the Impact of Healthcare Providers in Relation to Gaining Patient\u27s Acceptance and Initiation of the HPV Vaccine: An Integrative Review

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent virus and the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Nearly 80 million people, approximately one in four, are currently infected in the United States (US). Given that HPV infections affects over 20 million Americans with possible life-threatening consequences, the importance of adhering to the recommended two-dose or three-dose vaccination series has a significant impact on cancer prevention. Research studies have suggested that adolescents and young adults are at an increased risk of STIs and low HPV vaccination rates. For this integrative review, the target population was adolescents to young adults, ages 9-26 years. Education on the benefits of HPV vaccination has been key to increasing vaccination rates. Healthcare costs associated with preventing and treating HPV-related conditions in the US have been at least $8.0 billion annually. HPV vaccines are the most effective and safest way to protect against HPV and a significant element in reducing future adverse health outcomes related to HPV. The Gardasil 9 vaccine is the recommended HPV vaccine, and it protects against the most high-risk strands of HPV, strands 16 and 18, plus several other high-risk strands that cause HPV-associated cancers and other abnormalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that males and females between the ages of 9 and 26 be offered the Gardasil vaccine to combat HPV-related infections and cancers. The primary purpose of this integrative review was to examine the impact of the vaccine provider in relation to gaining the patient\u27s acceptance and initiation of the HPV vaccine. Implications from this project may influence healthcare organizations to make HPV Gardasil vaccination a priority. Keywords: HPV, HPV vaccine, adolescents, prevention, education strategies, primary care providers (PCP