?Parents hesitant about having their teenager vaccinated for the human papilloma virus (HPV) were more likely to agree to vaccination when a health-care provider was persistent in addressing their concerns and questions, according to a qualitative study published in the June 2018 Pediatrics.

The authors of the study, “Parent-Provider Communication of HPV Vaccine Hesitancy”? (published online May 15), audio-recorded 43 visits with unvaccinated adolescents at six pediatric clinics in Dallas, Texas, in which parents were undecided about HPV vaccination.

The study suggests that the provider’s strong and persistent vaccine endorsements paired with rationales may help reduce parental hesitancy. Most parents who first expressed hesitancy with a question or concern, and nearly a third who first expressed an assertive response, ultimately chose to vaccinate in the same visit. When health-care providers acquiesced without any persistence, none of the teens received the HPV vaccine.