Parent attitudes regarding oral health clinic-based vaccination
Location
Medical Education Building, LSUHSC-NO
Presentation Date
10-10-2019 10:00 AM
End Date
10-10-2019 12:00 PM
Description
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and is a known risk factor and cause of cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, mouth, and throat. While HPV is normally associated with females and cervical cancer, HPV 16 and 18 are estimated to cause 70-80% of the >50,000 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) each year. The prevalence of HPV associated OPSCC has not decreased as compared to other head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. OPSCC is typically diagnosed in patients between 50- 70 years of age, is much more common in males than females, and has a 5 year survival rate of ~57%. In the United States, uptake of the HPV vaccine remains far below the goals of public health programs. Involvement of healthcare professionals beyond the traditional pediatric clinic setting can help to remove barriers to vaccination. Oral healthcare providers are stakeholders in prevention of high-risk HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and therefore dental clinics are a logical alternative setting for vaccination. We surveyed parents/guardians whose children were receiving care at a pediatric dental clinic to ascertain their receptivity to vaccination in the oral healthcare setting. Adults were approached in the clinic reception area and completed the short survey anonymously. Adults ages 22 to 61 (median, 36) participated in the study. The majority were women (63%) and self-identified as a racial/ethnic minority (64.2%). Participants’ children ranged in age from infant to 39 years and included 67 boys and 50 girls at the target ages for HPV vaccination. Most respondents (68%) believed that an oral health professional is a trusted source of information about vaccines, but while 75% would trust a vaccine recommendation from a dentist, only 46.9% would trust the recommendation of a dental hygienist. Correspondingly, 79% would allow their child’s dentist to administer vaccines. Adults who would refuse to allow a dentist to vaccinate their child were no different in age or education level from those who would accept the vaccine. A higher proportion of women (19.6%) than men (13.3%) reported that they would refuse vaccination of their child by a dentist, though this difference was not statistically significant. Many respondents (79%) expected that their child’s dentist should inform them of primary prevention strategies for head and neck cancer, while only 13.5% expected that this responsibility fell solely on their child’s pediatrician. In conclusion, parents are generally receptive to discussing and obtaining vaccines for their children from their child’s dentist.
Recommended Citation
Dean, Tyler C., "Parent attitudes regarding oral health clinic-based vaccination" (2019). Medical Student Research Poster Symposium. 9.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sommrd/2019/posters/9
Parent attitudes regarding oral health clinic-based vaccination
Medical Education Building, LSUHSC-NO
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and is a known risk factor and cause of cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, mouth, and throat. While HPV is normally associated with females and cervical cancer, HPV 16 and 18 are estimated to cause 70-80% of the >50,000 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) each year. The prevalence of HPV associated OPSCC has not decreased as compared to other head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. OPSCC is typically diagnosed in patients between 50- 70 years of age, is much more common in males than females, and has a 5 year survival rate of ~57%. In the United States, uptake of the HPV vaccine remains far below the goals of public health programs. Involvement of healthcare professionals beyond the traditional pediatric clinic setting can help to remove barriers to vaccination. Oral healthcare providers are stakeholders in prevention of high-risk HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and therefore dental clinics are a logical alternative setting for vaccination. We surveyed parents/guardians whose children were receiving care at a pediatric dental clinic to ascertain their receptivity to vaccination in the oral healthcare setting. Adults were approached in the clinic reception area and completed the short survey anonymously. Adults ages 22 to 61 (median, 36) participated in the study. The majority were women (63%) and self-identified as a racial/ethnic minority (64.2%). Participants’ children ranged in age from infant to 39 years and included 67 boys and 50 girls at the target ages for HPV vaccination. Most respondents (68%) believed that an oral health professional is a trusted source of information about vaccines, but while 75% would trust a vaccine recommendation from a dentist, only 46.9% would trust the recommendation of a dental hygienist. Correspondingly, 79% would allow their child’s dentist to administer vaccines. Adults who would refuse to allow a dentist to vaccinate their child were no different in age or education level from those who would accept the vaccine. A higher proportion of women (19.6%) than men (13.3%) reported that they would refuse vaccination of their child by a dentist, though this difference was not statistically significant. Many respondents (79%) expected that their child’s dentist should inform them of primary prevention strategies for head and neck cancer, while only 13.5% expected that this responsibility fell solely on their child’s pediatrician. In conclusion, parents are generally receptive to discussing and obtaining vaccines for their children from their child’s dentist.
Comments
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Cameron (Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology)