Multilevel Implementation Strategies for Adolescent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE

Despite availability of a safe and effective vaccine, an estimated 36 500 new cancers in the US result from human papillomavirus (HPV) annually. HPV vaccine uptake falls short of national public health goals and lags other adolescent vaccines.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the individual and combined impact of 2 evidence-based interventions on HPV vaccination rates among 11- and 12-year-old children.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study team conducted a cluster randomized clinical trial with a stepped-wedge factorial design at 6 primary care practices affiliated with Mayo Clinic in southeastern Minnesota. Using block randomization to ensure balance of patient volumes across interventions, each practice was allocated to a sequence of four 12-month steps with the initial baseline step followed by 2 intermediate steps (none, 1, or both interventions) and a final step wherein all practices implemented both interventions. Each month, all eligible children who turned 11 or 12 years in the 2 months prior were identified and followed until the end of the step. Data were analyzed from April 2018 through March 2019. Participants included children who turned 11 or 12 years old and were due for a dose of the HPV vaccine.

INTERVENTIONS

Parents of eligible patients were mailed reminder/recalls following their child's birthdays. Health care professionals received confidential audit/feedback on their personal in-office success with HPV vaccine uptake via intra-campus mail. These 2 interventions were assessed separately and in combination.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Eligible patients' receipt of any valid dose of HPV vaccine during the study step.

RESULTS

The cohort was comprised of 9242 11-year-olds (5165 [55.9%]) and 12-year-olds (4077 [44.1%]), and slightly more males (4848 [52.5%]). Parent reminder/recall resulted in 34.6% receiving a dose of HPV vaccine, health care professional audit/feedback, 30.4%, both interventions together resulted in 39.7%-all contrasted to usual care, 21.9%. Compared with usual care, the odds of HPV vaccination were higher for parent reminder/recall (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.23-1.97) and for the combination of parent reminder/recall and health care professional audit/feedback (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.44-2.85). Health care professional audit/feedback alone did not differ significantly from usual care (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.94-1.51).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cluster randomized trial, the combination of parent reminder/recall and health care professional audit/feedback increased the odds of HPV vaccination compared with usual care. These findings underscore the value of simultaneous implementation of evidence-based strategies to improve HPV vaccination.