This project aims to understand how improving vaccine education and awareness can impact the number of parents who vaccinate, or intend to vaccine, their middle school-aged children with age-appropriate vaccines, including human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis (MCV) and tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (TDap).
Vaccines are considered one of the greatest public health successes. Unfortunately, an increasing rate of parental resistance in recent years has led to a reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases. This project seeks to determine the effect of a multi-tiered school and community-based approach to improving rates of parental intent to vaccinate for middle school-aged vaccinations including Human Papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis (MCV) and Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TDap). By randomizing participating schools, parents receiving the intervention participated in (1) a community-based event to raise parental awareness of the importance of vaccination and (2) a social marketing campaign targeting parents' attitudes and knowledge around vaccinations. The Investigators hypothesized that participation in this study would increase parental intention to vaccinate. In addition, this study intended to improve rates of recommended vaccination among middle school-aged children, as measured through vaccine uptake information required for annual entry into Pennsylvania public schools. The Penn State team brings a breadth of experience in pediatrics, community-engaged research, adolescent health, and engagement with schools.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
148
Formative focus group data was used to design an educational community event to improve information share and vaccine education/knowledge.
Formative focus group data was used to design educational messaging to be electronically distributed to intervention participants
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Percentage of Participants With Intent to Vaccinate Adolescent Child (Tdap, MCV, HPV)
Parental intent to vaccinate their adolescent child with Tdap, MCV, and HPV vaccines, was dichotomized for each vaccine in the survey. Tdap and MCV included the options 1) intention to vaccinate/vaccinated ("plan to get this shot before the first day of 7th grade" or "up-to-date with this shot") or 2) no intention to vaccinate ("no plans to get this shot" or "have or plan to submit an exemption for this shot"). The HPV variable excluded the option "have or plan to submit an exemption for this shot" as vaccine is not required for school entry. Variables (Tdap, MCV, HPV) were compared within and between treatment groups from baseline to 6 mo. follow up with a generalized estimating equations model using the framework of a log-binomial logistic regression model. Risk ratios resulting from these models were used to quantify the magnitude and direction of any significant differences.
Time frame: Participants were assessed at baseline and follow-up at 6 months.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.