Is it feasible to carry out a large-scale study to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of expansion of the HPV vaccination programme to community pharmacies to improve uptake and address inequalities?

Funding

BNSSG ICB Research Capability Funding.

What is the research question?

What is the problem?

The English HPV vaccination programme is offered through a predominantly schools-based model of delivery. However, young people who do not receive the vaccine at a scheduled session in school face significant barriers to access.

Community pharmacies are promising alternative settings because of their population reach, convenience, and existing infrastructure for vaccine delivery. There is some evidence to support that delivery of the seasonal flu vaccination programme in community pharmacies can improve uptake and be provided at a lower cost than general practice settings. However, no studies have been carried out that have tested delivery of the HPV vaccination programme within English community pharmacies.

What is the aim of the research?

To find out if it would be possible to undertake a large-scale scientific study to test whether expansion of the HPV vaccination programme to community pharmacies can help improve uptake and address inequalities.

How will this be achieved?

The research has two phases.

Phase One: Exploratory study

Interviews will be carried out with key stakeholders (e.g. commissioners, pharmacists, vaccine providers) to find out what they think can stop and help the HPV vaccination programme being delivered in community pharmacies in areas where uptake is lower. The findings from the exploratory study will be used to finalise the plan for the next stage of the study.

Phase Two: Feasibility Study

Workshops will be organised with young people and parents belonging to our target population groups to co-design a resource to help pharmacists promote the HPV vaccination programme. The resource will include communication materials (e.g. films) developed by the research team in previous studies and publicly available materials (e.g. translated information leaflets).

The delivery of the HPV vaccination programme will be tested in six community pharmacies in areas of Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire that have lower vaccination uptake. Training about the HPV vaccine and the research procedures and the co-designed resources will be provided to pharmacists.

Interviews with pharmacy staff, young people (vaccinated and unvaccinated) and parents will help establish which parts of the HPV vaccination programme work well, which parts do not work well, and why. Participants will also be asked to find out what they think about the proposed research methods. The financial costs and benefits of providing the HPV vaccine in community pharmacies will also be estimated.

The findings will be used to inform a research proposal for any future effectiveness study.

Who is leading the research?

Dr Harriet Fisher, Research Fellow, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School.

Further information:

For more information or to get involved with this project, please contact bnssg.research@nhs.net.