The community nurse’s role on the promotion of papillomavirus vaccination among young students: A study protocol

ABSTRACT

Vaccination is the principal strategy for primary prevention of infection by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which causes different pathological conditions, up to cancer, in both males and females. However, to date, knowledge among adolescents and their parents about the HPV vaccine is still low. The aim of this quasi-experimental, multicenter study is to assess the effectiveness of a digital educational intervention, conducted by a multidisciplinary health-care team including a Community Nurse, to increase adolescents’ HPV vaccination uptake, their knowledge, self-efficacy, feelings and involvement in HPV vaccine decision-making, and parents’ vaccination hesitancy. The study will be carried out among a population of students (and their parents), aged between 11 and 13, at secondary schools in Italy. Validated questionnaires will be administered to both students and parents at baseline (T0) and 3 months after a digital educational intervention (T1). The findings may be useful in evaluating and deepening a methodology for designing and implementing educational interventions, embedded in the school setting, that could promote the achievement of outcomes within the broader process of youth’s health promotion.

KEYWORDS:

• Human papilloma virus
• vaccination
• primary care
• nursing

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Mr. Nazario Brescia for the translation of this paper.

Authors’ contributions

Marco Tomietto, Valentina Simonetti, Dania Comparcini, Giancarlo Cicolini: Conceptualization, Methodology. Marco Tomietto, Valentina Simonetti, Dania Comparcini, Pasquale Stefanizzi, Francesco Pastore, Giancarlo Cicolini: Data curation, Writing and Original draft preparation. Marco Tomietto, Valentina Simonetti, Dania Comparcini, Silvio Tafuri, Giancarlo Cicolini: Supervision. Marco Tomietto, Valentina Simonetti, Dania Comparcini, Silvio Tafuri, Giancarlo Cicolini: Writing, Reviewing and Editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

This protocol does not report results. The identified research data will be made publicly available when the study is completed and published.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.