How to overcome information and communication barriers in Human Papillomavirus vaccination? A SWOT analysis based on the opinions of European family doctors in contact with young people and their parents

Background: Family doctors (FDs)/General practitioners (GPs) are the key contact points for young people and their parents regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. However, their recommendations are influenced by communication skills. Objectives: Under the EU4Health project, PROTECT-EUROPE, WONCA Europe led a task to identify and analyse strategies for clinicians’ interpersonal communication skills when discussing HPV and its vaccination with young people and their parents. Methods: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis using qualitative data focused on HPV vaccine acceptance and communication with the target population. FDs/GPs, members of WONCA Europe, were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling through surveys at conferences and emails. Results: 223 FDs/GPs from 36 countries participated. Strengths included face-to-face communication, extensively used to promote the HPV vaccine. Weaknesses involved financial constraints, limited knowledge about gender-neutral vaccination, safety concerns, and time pressure during the consultations. Opportunities included confidentiality, open dialogue, trusting relationship between FDs/GPs and the target population, continuing medical education, school training, and questions & answers sessions to increase vaccine communication. Threats included social norms and cultures, stigmas against HPV, and anti-vaccination movements hindering discussions on HPV vaccination. Conclusion: It is crucial to train FDs/GPs to address knowledge gaps, enhance communication skills, and maintain a trusting relationship with patients when discussing HPV vaccination. Overcoming financial barriers and ensuring gender-neutral vaccination programs are accessible across Europe are also essential. Providing accurate information through the web- and school-based channels and developing community-oriented approaches targeting sociocultural factors and different needs to eliminate HPV vaccine stigmas should be considered when recommending the vaccine.