Increasing Rates of Human Papillomavirus Catch‐Up Vaccination at a Sexual/Reproductive Health Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

IntroductionCatch‐up human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of adults aged 19 to 26 who were not vaccinated as children or adolescents may decrease rates of HPV‐associated cancer. The purpose of this project was to increase uptake of catch‐up HPV vaccination at a sexual and reproductive health clinic through the implementation of a multicomponent, systems‐based intervention.ProcessCatch‐up vaccination rates were recorded at an intervention health clinic and a comparison health clinic. A comparative, interrupted time series design was used to compare rates of catch‐up vaccination pre‐ and postintervention. Electronic health record prompts, in‐clinic education, and scheduling of a next visit at the current visit were implemented. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and regression analysis.OutcomesThe proportion of all patients aged 19 to 26 who received an HPV vaccination rose at the intervention health clinic from 0.76% preintervention to 4.42% postintervention. At the intervention clinic there was a nonsignificant increase (4.47 minutes) in average daily patient cycle times between the pre‐ and postintervention periods (t(13) = 1.895, P = .075).DiscussionRates of catch‐up HPV vaccination increased significantly following the multicomponent, systems‐based intervention. Further iteration of the quality improvement process should examine the sustainability of the interventions and the effects of the intervention on vaccine series completion.