Abstract 268: Tracking HPV vaccination of young boys: is parental recall as dependable as physician records
Authors: Osazuwa-Peters Nosayaba , Tobo Betelihem B. , Muthukrishnan Meera , Lew Daphne , Chen Betty , Boakye Eric Adjei 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: HPV vaccine is administered to young boys and girls aged 11-12 years in multiple doses rather than single dose. The interval between doses is critical as well as completion of the dose series. Moreover, the administration of the HPV vaccine in 2 doses is a recent change from the 3 doses previously recommended for children aged 11-12 years. Therefore, it is critical that HPV vaccination uptake records are accurately kept as interventions are developed to increase HPV vaccine uptake. Previous studies on the validity of parental reported HPV vaccine uptake have focused only on adolescent girls. This is because the HPV vaccine recommendation for boys came 5 years after that for girls. Currently, vaccination rates among boys lag behind those for girls across the United States. This study compared the validity of parent- vs. provider-reported HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates among a national sample of adolescent boys in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed the 2014 National Immunization Survey-Teen data for adolescent boys only (n = 9,493), and obtained information on the records of HPV vaccine uptake [initiation (≥1 dose) and completion (≥ 3 doses)] for both parents (parental recall) and provider reports (electronic medical records). We compared the validity of parent- versus provider-reported HPV vaccination by computing validity measures [sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and kappa].

Results: Rates reported by provider and parental recall were similar for HPV vaccine initiation (41.8% vs. 42.7%, respectively), and completion (19.6% vs. 21.9%, respectively). Compared to provider report, parent-reported HPV vaccine initiation had a sensitivity of 83.0%, a specificity of 88.8%, a PPV of 84.1%, a NPV of 87.9%, and a kappa coefficient of 0.72. Compared to provider report, parent-reported HPV vaccine completion had a sensitivity of 68.6%, a specificity of 92.9%, a PPV of 72.9%, a NPV of 91.4%, and a kappa coefficient of 0.63.

Conclusions: Both parent- and provider-reported HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates were comparable; however, parental recall of HPV vaccine completion among boys was less sensitive. Ongoing surveillance of HPV vaccination rates among boys is important as more studies are designed to improve HPV vaccine uptake and understand parental HPV vaccine barriers. In this regard, parental recall may be used as an effective alternative in assessing HPV vaccine uptake in the United States.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Betelihem B. Tobo, Meera Muthukrishnan, Daphne Lew, Betty Chen, Eric Adjei Boakye. Tracking HPV vaccination of young boys: is parental recall as dependable as physician records [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 268. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-268