Background:
Healthcare providers diagnose and manage HPV-associated conditions and provide important prevention messages to their patients. CDC research indicates that providers are not educated on HPV science or recommended practices for HPV-related patient management and care, and face considerable challenges in counseling patients about HPV. There is a need to reach providers with current HPV information and guidelines, and to promote effective patient counseling.

Objective:
Develop scientifically accurate clinical training tools to improve provider knowledge and clinical and communication practices related to HPV-associated conditions.

Method:
A booklet was developed to address the natural history, epidemiology, transmission, prevention, treatment and management of HPV and associated conditions. In May 2005, booklet content was tested through phone interviews with 37 U.S. providers, segmented by patient population (Caucasian/African American/Hispanic/Native American/Asian American) and provider type (MD/RN/NP). Providers (across a range of specialty areas, practice settings, geographic locations, and clinical practices) were recruited by professional recruiting firms using national databases, snowball sampling, and CDC partner referrals. Testing assessed packaging/format preferences and content gaps, understandability, comprehensiveness, and usefulness. Interviews were transcribed and a notes-based strategy was used to analyze results.

Result:
Participants described content as informative, comprehensive, easy-to-understand, and important. They felt the information would be useful as a reference tool for detecting/treating HPV and for counseling patients on screening/prevention. Clinical management algorithms were particularly useful and relevant. Packaging, format and channel preferences were also identified.

Conclusion:
Findings guided booklet revisions/additions and the development of additional provider materials.

Implications:
Audience-tested HPV clinical educational materials fill important gaps identified by U.S. providers. CDC encourages broad use and dissemination of these materials.