Project Details
Description
Need
UTIMB is well-known for its history of caring for low-income patients from disadvantaged backgrounds who are at increased risk of HPV-related cancers. Its large catchment area of 25 counties 'includes 17 which are medically underserved or rural. Adolescents residing in these counties have much lower HPV vaccine completion rates than the 80% level needed for herd immunity. Our evidence-based program has demonstrated over the last 2 cycles that a multipronged intervention consisting of patient navigation (PN), provider education, and community outreach can significantly improve HPV vaccine uptake and completion among this at-risk population.
Overall Project Strategy
During the last 2 cycles, we have administered over 10,000 doses of the HPV vaccine through a collaboration with 3 large UTMB clinics. Moreover, over 90% of participants completed the series, which is much higher than the 52% rate in Texas and 62% rate in the US. In this expansion, we will add 2 more large clinics serving low income patients. A review of electronic medical records demonstrated that adolescents seen in these clinics have low HPV vaccine completion rates ( 45% ).
In the next cycle, we will continue to use those techniques proven to increase 1initiation and completion rates in the first 2 cycles. Bilingual PNs will offer in-person counseling to parents of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children 9-17 years of age. We will offer same day vaccination appointments and implement standing orders in all clinics. We will also include those seeing subspecialists that day, who usually do not offer this vaccine, to avoid missed opportunities for vaccination. Parents will be asked about other children in the family who may need to be vaccinated. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled before the patient leaves the clinic to ensure completion of all doses. PNs will use multiple systems (text, voice, automated) to remind patients about follow-up visits and immediately reschedule those who miss appointments. To eliminate cost barriers, there will be no charge to the patient for the vaccine. Most vaccine costs will be paid by Vaccines for Children, Medicaid or CHIP which will save CPRIT over $2 million.
We will implement a broad-based education program for the entire care team to ensure there is a unified approach in the clinics and increase sustainability. Our team will give numerous in-services and lectures across UTMB, including personnel at UTMB's Community-Based Clinics and UTMB's network of regional clinics serving women and children. We will also educate different members of the health care team including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants by giving presentations on the local, regional and state level. Lectures will be given to medical and nursing students to ensure future providers are knowledgeable about how to counsel families of adolescents and address vaccine hesitancy. Finally, we will educate the community about the importance of being vaccinated through health fairs, back-to-school events
and social media. These steps will ensure that both providers and parents understand the benefits of vaccinating adolescents between 9-17 years of age and the importance of completing the series.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 3/1/24 → 2/29/28 |
Funding
- Cancer Prevention and Research Institute ( Award #PP240022): $595,075.00