Applying the COM-B behaviour model to understand factors which impact school immunisation nurses’ attitudes towards designing and delivering a HPV educational intervention in post-primary schools for 15-17 year old students in Northern Ireland, UK

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Abstract

Introduction: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is responsible for the development of cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, oropharyngeal and anal cancers. Throughout the UK, Immunisation nurses (IMNs) deliver school-based HPV vaccinations to students 12-13 years old. Providing HPV education to 15-17 year old students may promote decision-making regarding their sexual health and award opportunity for unvaccinated students to self-consent to the vaccination. This study aims to explore the perceptions of IMNs regarding the value of providing HPV education to 15-17 year old students and to explore whether IMNs feel that the design/delivery of this education should form part of their professional role.
Methods: Six focus groups were conducted online with IMNs from all five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, UK, between January-June 2021. Data were analysed using the COM-B model to identify factors that might influence IMNs’ behaviour towards designing/delivering this education for 15-17 year old students.
Results: IMNs were highly motivated to design and deliver this HPV education. Facilitators promoting this behaviour included their specialist training, their previous sexual health teaching experience and their desire to educate young people. Barriers negatively influencing this behaviour included lack of time/resources, parental influences, lack of school support and lack of teaching/presentation skills training.
Conclusion: IMNs feel that they are the most appropriate professionals to design/deliver HPV education for 15-17 year old students. National policy change, based on collaboration between the Public Health Agency and Education Authority, is a key factor in facilitating IMNs to implement this school-based HPV education intervention.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5630-5639
Number of pages10
JournalVaccine
Volume41
Issue number38
Early online date4 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 4 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

This work was supported by the College of Radiographers, UK, through the CoRIPs Research Grant fund. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all of the IMNs who participated in this research study. We are especially grateful to the team managers who helped with coordination of the focus groups.

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • HPV
  • vaccination
  • immunisation
  • nurses
  • adolescent
  • school
  • education
  • COM-B
  • attitudes
  • Vaccination
  • Immunisation
  • Attitudes
  • School
  • Education
  • Nurses
  • Adolescent

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