Unconscious biases may cause pediatricians to underestimate the risks and impact of human papillomavirus–caused diseases, leading to poor uptake of HPV vaccine in our patients.
A thoughtful and succinct Perspectives piece in Pediatrics explores clinicians' unconscious cognitive bias as an explanation for the poor uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. In 2014, only 40% of girls and 22% of boys aged 13 to 17 years had received all three recommended doses of HPV vaccine. Coverage with other vaccines recommended in this age group ranges from 80% to 90%. Previous research has shown that an unequivocal recommendation by a trusted provider is the key element to reassurance about vaccination.
The authors describe two types of cognitive bias. The first is the “bias of retrievability,” which may lead pediatricians to underestimate the risks of HPV-related disease because it is less familiar. We likely will rememb…
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DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)