The creation of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and introduction into the scheduled vaccine series recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention represented a major public health milestone. Yet, there is limited data on the extent to which dermatologists administer the HPV vaccine despite relevance to practice.
We developed an anonymous, online survey to determine the frequency of HPV vaccination by dermatologists and characterize vaccinated patient populations. The survey was structured using the guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices1 and face validity was determined by an expert panel of three dermatologists. IRB approval was obtained prior to distributing the survey via a listserv of board-certified dermatologists. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between demographic variables and likelihood of HPV vaccination.
911 board-certified dermatologists received the survey link. 127 dermatologists completed the survey (Table 1). 14/127 (11%) dermatologists reported administering the HPV vaccine in their clinic. 12/14 (86%) dermatologists administering the HPV vaccine included special populations such as men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women, and transgender patients. 7/12 (58%) of these dermatologists also reported administering the vaccine to patients living with human immunodeficiency virus. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated lesbian or gay dermatologists had 11.83 times higher odds of administering the HPV vaccine than straight dermatologists (P=0.003) and academic dermatologists had 5.7 times higher odds of administering the HPV vaccine than private practice dermatologists (P=0.013). Of 113 dermatologists who reported not administering the HPV vaccine, 58/113 (51%) reported vaccination was not in the scope of their practice, 40/113 (35%) cited administrative burden, 19/113 (17%) cited cost, and 5/113 (4%) cited a lack of data as reasons against vaccine administration (Figure 1).
Based on our survey results we hypothesize that, in general, dermatologists administer the HPV vaccine significantly less 4
We developed an anonymous, online survey to determine the frequency of HPV vaccination by dermatologists and characterize vaccinated patient populations. The survey was structured using the guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices1 and face validity was determined by an expert panel of three dermatologists. IRB approval was obtained prior to distributing the survey via a listserv of board-certified dermatologists. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between demographic variables and likelihood of HPV vaccination.
911 board-certified dermatologists received the survey link. 127 dermatologists completed the survey (Table 1). 14/127 (11%) dermatologists reported administering the HPV vaccine in their clinic. 12/14 (86%) dermatologists administering the HPV vaccine included special populations such as men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women, and transgender patients. 7/12 (58%) of these dermatologists also reported administering the vaccine to patients living with human immunodeficiency virus. Multiple logistic regression demonstrated lesbian or gay dermatologists had 11.83 times higher odds of administering the HPV vaccine than straight dermatologists (P=0.003) and academic dermatologists had 5.7 times higher odds of administering the HPV vaccine than private practice dermatologists (P=0.013). Of 113 dermatologists who reported not administering the HPV vaccine, 58/113 (51%) reported vaccination was not in the scope of their practice, 40/113 (35%) cited administrative burden, 19/113 (17%) cited cost, and 5/113 (4%) cited a lack of data as reasons against vaccine administration (Figure 1).
Based on our survey results we hypothesize that, in general, dermatologists administer the HPV vaccine significantly less 4
