Development of an HPV Educational Protocol for Adolescents

Wetzel, Caitlin; Tissot, Abbigail; Kollar, Linda M.; Hillard, Paula A.; Stone, Rachel; Kahn, Jessica A.

doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2006.12.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 281-287, October 2007

Development of an HPV Educational Protocol for Adolescents

Caitlin Wetzel
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Abbigail Tissot, MA
- Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Linda M. Kollar, RN, MSN
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Paula A. Hillard, MD
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Rachel Stone, MS
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Jessica A. Kahn, MD, MPH
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Address correspondence to: Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH, Division of Adolescent Medicine, MLC 4000, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229

Abstract

Study Objectives

To develop an educational protocol about HPV and Pap tests for adolescents, to evaluate the protocol for understandability and clarity, and to evaluate the protocol for its effectiveness in increasing knowledge about HPV.

Design

In phase 1, investigators and adolescents developed the protocol. In phase 2, adolescents evaluated the protocol qualitatively, investigators evaluated its effectiveness in increasing HPV knowledge in a sample of adolescents, and the protocol was revised. In phase 3, investigators evaluated the effectiveness of the revised protocol in an additional adolescent sample.

Setting

Urban, hospital-based teen health center.

Participants

A total of 252 adolescent girls and boys in the three study phases.

Main Outcome Measures

Pre- and post-protocol knowledge about HPV, measured using a 10- or 11-item scale.

Results

Scores on the HPV knowledge scale increased significantly (P < 0.0001) among adolescents who participated in phases 2 and 3 after they received the protocol. Initial differences in scores based on race, insurance type, and condom use were not noted post-protocol.

Conclusion

The protocol significantly increased knowledge scores about HPV in this population, regardless of sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviors. Effective, developmentally appropriate educational protocols about HPV and Pap tests are particularly important in clinical settings as cervical cancer screening guidelines evolve, HPV DNA testing is integrated into screening protocols, and HPV vaccines become available. In-depth, one-on-one education about HPV may also prevent adverse psychosocial responses and promote healthy sexual and Pap screening behaviors in adolescents with abnormal HPV or Pap test results.

Key Words: Education, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Pap tests, Adolescents