ORCID Identifier(s)

0009-0008-5498-9666

Graduation Semester and Year

Spring 2025

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Thomas Dombrowsky, PhD, RN

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction

Despite the recommendations of the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, HPV immunization lags behind other routine vaccines by up to 31%. Although there are many reasons for the low vaccine rate, provider hesitancy and lack of confidence significantly contribute to suboptimal HPV vaccine uptake.

Objectives

This project aimed to utilize evidence-driven interventions to increase family nurse practitioners' (FNPs) knowledge and confidence in offering the HPV vaccine.

Methods

Participants were given pre- and post-questionnaire surveys. The Wilcoxon Rank Test was used to compare, quantify, and measure the results of the eight-week data collection.

Results

The subjects were 19 FNPs, aged 36-45 (n = 9, 47.4%), female (n = 16, 84.2%), with a Master's level education (n = 17, 89.5%), and with experience ranging from 0 to 5 years (n = 13, 68.4%). The handouts were most utilized, followed by scripted messages, shared decision-making, and consultation with the HPV vaccine champion. There was a statistically significant increase in HPV vaccination from pre-intervention (M= 1.00) to post-intervention (M = 3.00, Z = -3.76, p < 0.001), a significant increase in confidence from pre-intervention (M= 2.67) to post-intervention (M= 5.00, Z = -3.95, p < 0.001), and a significant increase in knowledge from pre-intervention (M= 2.67) to post-intervention (M = 4.67, Z = -3.74, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The HPV interventions effectively increased FNPs' knowledge and confidence in offering the HPV vaccine. All the interventions complement each other, making the provider more ready to direct patients and parents toward acceptance of the HPV vaccine.

Keywords

HPV vaccine, improving nurse practitioner knowledge and confidence, human papillomavirus infection prevention, cancer prevention, scripted messaging, hpv handouts, hpv vaccine champion, shared decision making, provider education to parents and patients, hpv related cancers

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Diagnosis | Family Practice Nursing | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Infectious Disease | International Public Health | Interprofessional Education | Medical Immunology | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Oncology | Other Nursing | Public Health and Community Nursing | Public Health Education and Promotion | Quality Improvement | Virus Diseases | Women's Health

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

Acknowledgements:

Thomas Dombrowsky, PhD, RN – Faculty Project Adviser

Robert Heidel, PhD – Statistician

Daniel Fisher - Husband and best friend

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