Newswise — PHILADELPHIA – “Knowledge is power” is an old saying. Another cliché warns, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” When it comes to getting inoculated against the Human Papilloavirus (HPV), it seems that neither saying is true. In fact, according to a study by a multidisciplinary University of Pennsylvania research team, knowledge may in fact be a meaningless thing.
A year-long study of over 360 adolescents who were considered to be ideal candidates to receive the HPV vaccine showed that neither increased parental or adolescent knowledge about HPV or the vaccine resulted in higher rates of vaccination. That is, those with higher levels of knowledge were not more likely to obtain vaccination for themselves or their daughters.
The study, reported in the journal Pediatrics, raises questions about traditional dogma related to using public service announcements and other educational efforts to increase knowledge about the vaccination.
Researchers Jessica Fishman, PhD; Lynne Taylor, PhD, Patricia Kooker, MS, and Ian Frank, MD from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and the Perelman School of Medicine, surveyed a group of adolescents and parents of adolescents who participated in surveys administered by the researchers to determine their knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine. The study was funded in part by the Center of Excellence in Cancer Communication Research (CECCR) at the Annenberg School for Communication.
In addition to surveying participants, the researchers tracked whether vaccinations were received, via an analysis of clinical records kept through Philadelphia’s Kids Immunizations Database/Tracking System (KIDS).
The results of the surveys showed that only about 14 percent of the adolescents were ultimately vaccinated.
“Knowledge was neither necessary nor sufficient. Although knowledge is often assumed to be key to increasing vaccination rates, it may be unwise to place so much promise on knowledge,” said Fishman, the study's lead author. Providers who reduce missed opportunities to offer vaccination, along with convenient and affordable vaccination may be very important. While the vaccination is shown to be effective, uptake remains very low in this high-risk population.”
The researchers stress that future tests should include additional populations. They also suggest that future studies should examine which modifiable factors predict those who vaccinate, so that interventions can target those factors.
The study was directly funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (SAP 4100038712). Fishman is supported by the American Cancer Society (MRSG 115068).# # #
Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2013 fiscal year.The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Chester County Hospital; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2013, Penn Medicine provided $814 million to benefit our community.
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