Parental Decisional Strategies Regarding HPV Vaccination Before Media Debates: A Focus Group Study

Abstract

Before the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, decisional strategies and factors that could guide HPV vaccination intentions were explored. The authors conducted 4 focus group discussions with 36 parents of children 8–15 years of age. Three groups consisted primarily of Dutch parents and 1 group of only Turkish parents. Discussions followed a semi-structured question route. Results showed that some parents used an approach of systematically seeking information as a way to prepare a decision, whereas others merely relied on trust in the message source. In general, parents believed that it was important to protect their child against negative outcomes that could result from vaccinating or not, and they felt that it is their responsibility to decide about uptake. Perceived susceptibility, vaccine effectiveness, and possibility of serious side effects were most important in the HPV vaccination decision-making process. In conclusion, parents perceived a lack of information and felt insecure about the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. This may result in ambivalent feelings toward HPV vaccination, which, in turn, may lead to postponing decisions about uptake. To facilitate informed decision making, which requires central processing, personally relevant messages about the knowns and unknowns regarding the effects of HPV vaccination should be provided.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the parents who participated in the focus group discussions. They also thank Lottie Heijink, Inge de Kok, Lenneke van Genugten, and Halime Kaya-Dag for leading or assisting the focus group discussions. This study was funded by the Dutch Cancer Society (EMCR 2008-3992). The authors declare their independence from the funder.

Notes

^a These columns do not add up to the total number of respondents (N = 36) because data for 1 respondent are missing.

Note. Respondents were provided with information about HPV and HPV vaccination during the interviews. This information and the time of provision are presented in the interview topic list in italics. DTP = diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis; HPV = human papillomavirus.