Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates through education of staff, providers, and parents in a rural primary care clinic.|Background: The HPV vaccine is recommended for protection against infection and potential cancer sequelae. In 2017, HPV vaccination completion rates in the United States and Mills County, Iowa were 48.6 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The clinic was identified as using an assessment form for immunizations, which did not include HPV vaccination.|Sample/Setting: This quality improvement project was completed at a rural primary care clinic in southwest Iowa. Inclusion criteria included adolescents ages 9-18 years from all backgrounds.|Methods: Using Lewin’s Change Model as a guide, staff was educated regarding current clinic rates for HPV vaccination, given an educational HPV handout, instructed on new assessment forms, and to recommend the vaccine as cancer prevention using HPV vaccine handouts. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model was used for feedback on the forms and process. Vaccine rates were determined through the use of chart review and Iowa Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS).|Results: Many missed opportunities had occurred with the lack of consistent use of the assessment form. Several barriers in implementing the assessment form included time, form not being used for all adolescents, and lack of urgency related to vaccine administration.|Conclusion: This project was inconclusive due to small sample size and lack of full implementation. Future studies should focus on interventions during summer months for HPV vaccination and trying different assessment media such as electronic health record prompts.