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AbstractShared decision-making (SDM) represents an opportunity to increase patient involvement in their healthcare. Limited research exists on the factors impacting women’s reproductive decision-making and what practical needs may be. This study aimed to identify factors women perceived as influencing their reproductive health decisions (e.g., family planning, accessing routine gynecological care) and to understand how these factors impact SDM within the reproductive healthcare context. We completed six focus groups with women aged 18 to 45 years in the United States. Women’s SDM processes were explored using techniques from grounded theory. This study offered insight into factors influencing women’s reproductive healthcare decisions and how these factors can negatively impact SDM. Participants indicated a desire to be invited into the healthcare discussion in which providers listened, supported, and validated their choices and needs. Participants provided recommendations from positive experiences to identify their preferences during a woman’s healthcare appointment. Additionally, participants described quality time as more important than the quantity of time spent during consultations. Prior negative healthcare experiences attributed to interaction with healthcare providers affected their SDM perspectives and healthcare engagement, as did family/friends and race. Participants suggested that previous interactions with healthcare providers influenced their decision to seek healthcare, explicitly citing community-based reproductive healthcare. Findings provide recommendations on how clinicians can engage in SDM, practical opportunities to fulfill women’s patient–provider involvement needs, and new insights into continuing to develop the SDM model in reproductive healthcare.

Objectives In 2012, onetime hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening was recommended for all baby boomers (people born during 1945-1965) in the United States, but only 4.0%-12.9% of baby boomers have ever had a screening ordered by a health care provider. This study examined the HCV screening prevalence among adult patients in a large academic health care system and assessed factors associated with the completion of screening when ordered for baby boomers.Methods We defined HCV screening completion as the completion of an HCV antibody test when it was ordered. We used electronic health records to examine HCV screening completion rates among adults (N = 106 630) from August 1, 2015, through July 31, 2020, by birth cohort. Among baby boomers whose health care provider ordered HCV screening, we examined frequency and percentages of HCV screening completion by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We conducted univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess factors associated with HCV screening completion among baby boomers.Results During the study period, 73.0% of baby boomers completed HCV screening when it was ordered. HCV completion did not differ by sex or race and ethnicity among baby boomers. Baby boomers with Medicare supplemental health insurance compared with commercial health insurance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.87) and those seeing only advanced practice professionals compared with specialty care physicians (aOR = 2.24) were more likely to complete HCV screening when it was ordered.Conclusions Noncompletion of HCV screening is one of many barriers along the HCV treatment continuum. Our findings suggest a need for interventions targeting systems, health care providers, and patients to increase HCV screening rates in the United States.

ABSTRACTUnderstanding physician recommendation practices for HPV vaccination is a crucial step to developing interventions that can increase high quality recommendations and improve vaccination acceptance. Florida physicians (n= 340) completed a survey assessing recommendation strategies, specifically strength, consistency, and presentation. Physicians were also asked to provide suggestions for improving HPV vaccination in Florida. Responses were dichotomized for each outcome: strength (i.e., strongly recommend vs. other), consistently recommend (i.e., always recommend vs. other), and recommendation presentation (i.e., presented in the same manner as mandatory vaccines for adolescents vs. other). Bivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the association between physician/practice characteristics and each outcome. Variables significant (p< .05) in bivariate analyses were included in multivariable logistic regression analyses. Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider status (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.23–5.59 [strong]; OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.26–6.39 [consistent]) and not limiting the number of vaccines during a visit (OR = .283, 95% = CI .111-.722 [strong]; OR = .210, 95% = CI .066-.673 [consistent]) were significantly associated with strong and consistent recommendation. Reminders from the healthcare team were associated with consistency (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.23–4.16) and EMR-based reminders were associated with presentation (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.11–3.61). Multinomial logistic regression analysis examined factors associated with level of engagement in recommendation strategies. Multinomial regression indicated VFC providers (OR = 12.61, 95% CI = 1.89–82.20), and those receiving EMR-based reminders (OR = 4.02, 95% = CI 1.28–12.63), among others, were more likely to engage in all 3 types of recommendation practices. Physician suggestions for improving HPV vaccination rates included improving parent/patient/provider education and reducing vaccine costs. Future interventions should emphasize key components of delivering effective HPV vaccine recommendations, include information about insurance coverage, and improve provider awareness of VFC benefits.

Provider recommendation is a significant predictor of HPV vaccine uptake. Prior research suggests that concerns regarding risk compensation could cause some providers to hesitate recommending the HPV vaccine.

ABSTRACTThere has been some concern among parents and in the media that vaccinating children against human papillomavirus could be seen as giving children permission to engage in risky sexual behaviors (also known as sexual disinhibition). Several studies have found this concern to be unfounded but there have been no attempts to synthesize the relevant studies in order to assess if there is evidence of sexual disinhibition. The aim of this study was to synthesize recent literature examining sexual behaviors and biological outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted infections) post-HPV vaccination. We reviewed literature from January 1, 2008-June 30, 2015 using PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase with the following search terms: [(sex behavior OR sex behavior OR sexual) AND (human papillomavirus OR HPV) AND (vaccines OR vaccine OR vaccination)] followed by a cited reference search. We included studies that examined biological outcomes and reported behaviors post-vaccination in both males and females. Studies were reviewed by title and abstract and relevant studies were examined as full-text articles. We identified 2,503 articles and 20 were eventually included in the review. None of the studies of sexual behaviors and/or biological outcomes found evidence of riskier behaviors or higher rates of STIs after HPV vaccination. Instead, the studies found that vaccinated compared to unvaccinated individuals were less likely to report vaginal intercourse without a condom (OR = 0.5; 95%CI = 0.4–0.6) and non-use of contraception (OR = 0.27; 95%CI = 0.15–0.48) and unvaccinated participants had higher rates of Chlamydia (OR = 2.3; 95%CI = 1.06–5.00). These results should be reassuring to parents and health care providers.