Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Georgia: Evaluating the Georgia HPV Work Group

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Adrian R. King, Emory University; Tamira Moon, Georgia Department of Public Health; Gena Agnew, Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition; Robert Bednarczyk, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-06-01
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-00598-2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Community Health
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 428
• End Page: 435
• Grant/Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported in part by the Intervention Development, Dissemination and Implementation Developing Shared Resource of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and NIH/NCI under award number P30CA138292.; This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) P-30 Supplement funding program under award number P30CA138292.
• Keywords: Coalition strengthening; Work Group; Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services; Human Papillomavirus; HPV; Vaccination; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Abstract

HPV-related cancers can be prevented through HPV vaccination, however uptake and completion of the vaccination in the state of Georgia remains suboptimal. The research team conducted two online focus groups with members of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium HPV Work Group in efforts to better understand the role that the working group could have on increasing vaccination uptake and completion in the state of Georgia. Analysis of the focus groups was completed using a Grounded Theory approach. Various aspects of the Working Group were discussed throughout the focus groups with a number of key points for growth identified both by the participants during the discussion, and by the research team during analysis. Predominantly, a primary point for growth of the Working Group lies in building its capacity to collectively conduct HPV vaccination-related activities. An online webportal specifically designed for the Working Group was identified as a tool for improving Working Group communication, sharing best practices and resources, and to collectively develop activities, research projects, and HPV vaccine promotion events in a culturally competent and age appropriate manner in efforts to improve vaccine uptake and completion throughout the state of Georgia.