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Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ishibashi, KL; Koopmans, J; Curlin, FA; Alexander, KA; Ross, LF
Published in: South Med J
December 2008

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine pediatricians' attitudes about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and to compare their attitudes with those expressed by the general public. METHODS: Eight-hundred and fifty pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics were surveyed, including general pediatricians (n = 450), and members of the sections of adolescent medicine (n = 200) and infectious diseases (n = 200). Pediatricians were asked to answer four items that had been included on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) poll of the general public shortly after the HPV vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. RESULTS: Of 752 eligible pediatricians, 373 (50%) responded. Compared to the general public, pediatricians were less likely to agree that routine Papanicolaou smears are a better strategy for preventing cervical cancer than HPV vaccination (12% vs 45%, P < 0.001), that abstinence programs are a better strategy for preventing the spread of HPV (17% vs 44%, P < 0.001), and that HPV vaccination may encourage sexual activity (4% vs 27%, P < 0.001). Pediatricians were more likely to support HPV vaccination without parental permission (77% vs 47%, P < 0.001). There were no differences between pediatricians based on gender. General pediatricians were more likely than pediatricians affiliated with the sections of infectious diseases and adolescent medicine to endorse abstinence programs over HPV vaccination (22% vs 16% and 8%, respectively, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Pediatricians are much more supportive of HPV vaccination than the general public. Pediatricians should be aware of these differences when counseling patients and their families.

Duke Scholars

Published In

South Med J

DOI

EISSN

1541-8243

Publication Date

December 2008

Volume

101

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1216 / 1221

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaginal Smears
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
  • United States
  • Sexual Abstinence
  • Public Opinion
  • Pediatrics
  • Parental Consent
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Papillomavirus Infections
  • Papanicolaou Test
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ishibashi, K. L., Koopmans, J., Curlin, F. A., Alexander, K. A., & Ross, L. F. (2008). Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public. South Med J, 101(12), 1216–1221. https://doi.org/10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181836b03
Ishibashi, Kimiko L., Joy Koopmans, Farr A. Curlin, Kenneth A. Alexander, and Lainie Friedman Ross. “Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public.South Med J 101, no. 12 (December 2008): 1216–21. https://doi.org/10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181836b03.
Ishibashi KL, Koopmans J, Curlin FA, Alexander KA, Ross LF. Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public. South Med J. 2008 Dec;101(12):1216–21.
Ishibashi, Kimiko L., et al. “Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public.South Med J, vol. 101, no. 12, Dec. 2008, pp. 1216–21. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181836b03.
Ishibashi KL, Koopmans J, Curlin FA, Alexander KA, Ross LF. Pediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public. South Med J. 2008 Dec;101(12):1216–1221.

Published In

South Med J

DOI

EISSN

1541-8243

Publication Date

December 2008

Volume

101

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1216 / 1221

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vaginal Smears
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
  • United States
  • Sexual Abstinence
  • Public Opinion
  • Pediatrics
  • Parental Consent
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Papillomavirus Infections
  • Papanicolaou Test