Effectiveness of an educational intervention in enhancing parents' knowledge, perception, and acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccine.

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, largely caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine has been proven to effectively reduce HPV infection rates and cervical cancer risk, making vaccination a crucial preventive measure.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving parents' knowledge, perception, and acceptability of the HPV vaccine.

METHODS

A pre-post research study was conducted in 2024 involving 140 parents in a specialized hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The intervention consisted of structured educational lectures, PowerPoint presentations, workshops, and parents' group discussions. Pre- and postintervention self-administered surveys were used to assess changes in knowledge, perception, and vaccine acceptability.

RESULTS

The intervention resulted in a significant improvement in parents' knowledge regarding HPV and its associated risks. Parental understanding of HPV transmission and vaccine benefits improved greatly following the intervention, rising from 17% to 87%. The mean knowledge score significantly increased from 5.2 ± 2.1 to 9.9 ± 1.8 (P < 0.001), indicating a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.58). Interestingly, parents with lower educational levels demonstrated the greatest improvement in knowledge scores compared with higher-educated parents (P = 0.039), suggesting that the intervention was particularly effective among this group. Additionally, the intervention positively influenced parental perception and acceptability of the HPV vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS

The research provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of educational interventions in enhancing parental understanding and HPV vaccine acceptance. The findings contribute to the development of targeted interventions, explicitly challenge prevalent misconceptions about HPV infection, and suggest strategies to improve parental awareness and facilitate informed decision-making regarding HPV prevention and testing in collaboration with stakeholders and community leaders.