Education, training, and communication for HPV vaccines

As human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines come to market, they will face education and training challenges similar to those of other new vaccines, along with HPV-specific issues. Recent studies document stark knowledge gaps about HPV at all levels - among policy makers, healthcare providers, parents, and teens - in both the industrialized and developing worlds. Pharmaceutical companies, public health advocates, medical trainers, and health educators need to understand their diverse audiences and respond appropriately to the needs of each. They also must use research-based communication strategies and materials to most effectively, and accurately, convey the need for an HPV vaccine and to manage expectations about how the vaccine can, and cannot, protect women and men. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.