Associations between risk-perception, self-efficacy and vaccine response-efficacy and parent/guardian decision-making regarding adolescent HPV vaccination

To evaluate associations of risk perception, self-efficacy and response-efficacy with HPV vaccination decisions among parents/guardians of adolescents. A cross-sectional survey of parents/guardians of adolescents was conducted at the Minnesota State Fair. Risk perception was measured by participant rankings of HPV infection and vaccine risks against diseases/side-effects for which numerical risks were provided. Response efficacy was measured as perceived ability of the vaccine to prevent HPV infection, and self-efficacy was measured as the perceived ability to prevent infection without vaccination (scale 0–100). Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests compared risk perception, self-efficacy and response-efficacy of vaccinators to non-vaccinators. Of 405 eligible participants, 355 completed vaccination questions; 304 (86%) were vaccinators and 51 (14%) were non-vaccinators. Non-vaccinators had lower risk-perception of HPV-related cancers (p