Navigating the Minefields of Sexual Health for Young Women

Dr. Michele McIntosh and nursing student Sarah Dykeman are conducting a study that hopes to get to the heart of a pressing and sometimes controversial subject: HPV or Gardisil vaccination.

In keeping with Trent’s tradition of innovative research, Professor McIntosh, a faculty member at the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, aims to better understand the knowledge girls bring to the vaccination decision and their participation in that decision.

Confusion about HPV, HIV and Gardasil

Studies show that many adolescent women are confused about HPV, with 15per cent believing incorrectly that HPV – the human papillomavirus – leads to AIDS. As many as 21 per cent of teens surveyed think the vaccine protects them from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

This misinformation could lead teen girls to neglect the use of protection against STDs. Alarmingly, Public Health Canada reports that young adult females ages 16-24 have the highest incidence of HIV diagnosis in Canada.

According to Prof. McIntosh, this gap in information poses a serious health problem, as well as an ethical minefield faced by the front line nurses who administer the vaccine to young patients. Many adolescents may not have adequate knowledge of the risks, benefits or alternatives to the vaccine in order to be adequately informed.

Prof. McIntosh’s study, entitled “A shot in the dark? The ethics of school based Gardasil vaccination programs,” will incorporate Ms. Dykeman’s thesis research, which focuses on gaining an in-depth understanding about the influences and information sources involved in young women’s decision-making process regarding the Gardasil vaccine for HPV.

Students learning to be agents of change

As a nursing student, Ms. Dykeman was initially drawn to the topic after she encountered the trend first-hand during her time working with adolescent girls at PARN, Peterborough’s community AIDS resource network, which provides counselling and information resources on HIV/AIDS.

The issue inspired her to prepare an in-depth proposal to conduct her own research. As a result, Ms.
Dykeman received one of Trent University’s first-ever Health Professional Student Research Vouchers from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) in April. Her involvement in this research study, alongside Prof. McIntosh, enables her to see how evidence is developed and how research is published and conducted.

Prof. McIntosh and Ms. Dykeman hope the study will be a catalyst for change.

“We can translate our findings into practical ways to improve the program for the girls and to enhance the ethical conduct of nurses who administer the vaccination programs in schools,” said Prof. McIntosh. “It’s really about giving the teens the opportunity to have the knowledge and ensure they are engaged in the decision-making process in ways that are good for them.”

The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing is committed to advancing nursing practices and achieving social justice.

“Nursing is sometimes seen as exclusively clinical,” Prof. McIntosh said. “This particular project shows that nurses are also engaged in research with social justice aims. We are building on Trent’s historic commitment to social justice by educating nurses to be agents for change.”