PAR for transferability of HPV interventions among underserved communities in the Netherlands

Abstract Background In the Netherlands, females with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background are among underserved communities with low HPV vaccine uptake. To target health system barriers related to uptake, the RIVER-EU project will identify and adjust promising evidence-based HPV interventions in collaboration with key stakeholders. Methods Participatory Action Research (PAR) was applied to engage and collaborate with key stakeholders, including community members to discuss on transferability of promising evidence-based HPV vaccination interventions. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted for which topic guides were developed. Results Key stakeholders included community members (parents and daughters), non-governmental organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers. To engage community members, we build upon the relationship we had built during the first phase of RIVER-EU, and we reached out to organizations working with the communities. To build relationships and trust intensive physical and clear communication with communities was helpful. It required time and efforts to engage with general practitioners due to work overload. We could establish successful engagement of all key stakeholders by the application of various strategies. Conclusions The PAR approach supported the meaningful discussion on identification of the facilitators and barriers related to the transfer and implementation of HPV interventions. All key stakeholders could provide their valuable insights needed to ensure successful understanding of the variety of perspectives needed for successful transfer.