Resident Physician Stony Brook Children's Hospital Huntington, New York, United States
Background: Every year in New York State, nearly 2,800 people are diagnosed with cancer caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) between 2015 and 2019. The rate of HPV vaccine series completion by age 13 in 2022 was 40.2% in New York State and 20.7% in Suffolk County. Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of early vaccination in reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Objective: The aim of this project was to increase the rates of HPV vaccination among 13-year-olds by 3% for first and second dose rates in one year from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. This was implemented at six Stony Brook Children’s primary care sites through partnership with the American Cancer Society and Stony Brook Cancer Center. Design/Methods: Baseline data from the electronic medical record was collected for first and second dose rates of HPV vaccines in 9 to 13-year-olds for all six primary care sites. The data criteria included established patients with at least one documented well child visit. The first intervention included HPV vaccine education to all health care team members including physicians, residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses. Education aimed to recommend HPV vaccine starting at age 9. This was conducted through both in person and video recorded PowerPoint presentations. The second intervention incorporated distribution of HPV vaccine information rack cards to all patients ages 9 through 12 upon check-in for their well child visits. This rack card created by the Stony Brook Cancer Center included HPV vaccine information, stated vaccine series can be started at age 9 and had a QR code to a Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) education video for parents and patients to view as they wait for the provider to enter the room. The third intervention involved updating the electronic medical record to include HPV vaccine orders to all well child visit order sets from ages 9 and above.
