Project Title: Preventing cancer: increasing HPV vaccination rates among adolescents at a residency clinic Authors: Emily Garban, MD; Anna Jameson, BSN, RN
Program: Fort Collins Family Medicine Residency
Abstract: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affects 80% of people in their lifetime and can lead to cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile, and head and neck cancer. The HPV vaccine can help prevent 90% of these cancers and yet HPV vaccination rates fall behind those of other adolescent vaccines. This project aims to increase the HPV vaccination rate among adolescents 12-18 years old. To meet this goal, staff at the Family Medicine Center were provided with an HPV vaccination presentation and completed pre- and post-surveys assessing their knowledge and comfort regarding HPV vaccination. In addition, letters were sent to adolescent patients 12-18 years old reminding them to complete adolescent health maintenance measures including the HPV vaccine. Once completed, the percent of adolescents overdue for their HPV vaccine before and 2 months after sending the letters will be compared with the goal of increasing the vaccination rate by at least 5%.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to…
• Describe common barriers to HPV vaccination.
• Demonstrate methods to improve HPV vaccination rates in an outpatient clinic.
Category: Outpatient quality improvement (QI)