Year of Publication

2024

College

Public Health

Date Available

6-18-2024

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

Committee Chair

Mark Swanson

Committee Member

Anne Ray

Committee Member

Marc Kiviniemi

Abstract

In response to the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the evidence-based Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations training program will be implemented in the Southeast Kentucky AHEC region over the course of three years. The implementation of the Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program has three specific aims:

Aim 1: Effectively implement and deliver the Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program to immunization providers in the Southeast Kentucky AHEC region

Aim 2: Increase provider self-efficacy for making strong recommendations for HPV routinely

Aim 3: Increase the number of recommendations for the HPV vaccine among adolescents of Bell and Harlan Counties in Kentucky

The Appalachia region of Kentucky carries a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer disease. County-level incidence data reveal a growing disparity between the Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions of the state. While prevention measures such as the HPV vaccine have been effective at reducing the burden cervical cancer on a national level, it has been less impactful in rural regions. HPV vaccination coverage in rural areas lags by 10%. Gaps in coverage for these areas could further exacerbate the cervical cancer disparity. Therefore, efforts to increase vaccination coverage are urgently needed to address the cervical cancer disparity in Appalachia.

The Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program is a 1-hr training session that aims to improve immunization providers’ self-efficacy for making strong, routine recommendations for the HPV vaccine. The program has been implemented and evaluated in other states and was found to be successful in increasing provider self-efficacy and vaccine initiation.

Bell and Harlan Counties Kentuckians are at a heightened risk for developing cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases due to significantly low uptake of the HPV vaccine. The Southeast KY Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is an ideal organization to implement this program due to their experience implementing other long-standing programs within Bell, Harlan, and surrounding counties. The organization has previous experience implementing grant-funded programs targeting aspiring and currently practicing healthcare professionals.

The Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program will be implemented by existing AHEC staff with the help of a Physician Educator. Program success will be evaluated using both process and outcome evaluation methods. This low-cost intervention is a sustainable solution to address the gap in vaccine coverage in Bell and Harlan Counties. Due to the relatively low-cost to implement and scalability of the program’s design, it has the potential to be expanded across the broader Appalachian region.

Download

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

COinS