The effect of school-based cervical cancer education on perceptions towards human papillomavirus vaccination among Hong Kong Chinese adolescent girls

• Published in: Patient education and counseling 2011-07, Vol.84 (1), p.118-122
• Main Authors: Kwan, Tracy T.C, Tam, Kar-fai, Lee, Peter W.H, Chan, Karen K.L, Ngan, Hextan Y.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent girls; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Cervical cancer; Chinese adolescent girls; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hong Kong; HPV vaccination; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomaviruses; Humans; Immunization; Internal Medicine; Logistic Models; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Nursing; Papillomavirus Infections - ethnology; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Perception; Perceptions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; School Health Services; School-based health education; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - ethnology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2010.06.018

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of school-based cervical cancer education on Hong Kong Chinese adolescent girls. Methods Adolescent girls ( n = 953) in local secondary schools attended a tailored educational program on cervical cancer prevention. Self-administered questionnaires were used before and after the program to measure its effects on participants’ knowledge, attitude and perceived social norms towards human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and their intention to be HPV vaccinated. Results Before the program, HPV vaccine acceptance was favorable but relevant knowledge was low. After the program, participants had greater knowledge and a more positive attitude (both p < 0.001), with more girls anticipating family (41.6% before vs. 58.9% after) and peer support (32.8% before vs. 56.9% after). There were 11.3% more girls who indicated an intention to accept the vaccine afterward. More knowledge, a more positive attitude and perceived support from significant others predicted a stronger intention to be HPV vaccinated. Conclusion The educational program had a positive impact on participants’ perceptions towards HPV vaccination and their intention to be vaccinated. Practice implications School-based cervical cancer education is a viable means to meet the substantial educational needs of adolescents. Promotion of HPV vaccination should also include educating and influencing perceptions of families and peers.