Answer this question please...

[forgop]

How would you answer this question:

A nurse is counseling an adolescent patient and her mother about preventing cervical cancer. The most important health promotion action the nurse could suggest is to:

A) Abstain from alcohol

B) Avoid sexual intercourse

C) Do not start smoking

D) Get the HPV vaccine

I'll go ahead and present my argument-

Risk for cervical cancer is increased by the HPV virus, which is contacted through sexual intercourse. The question obviously didn't indicate that the girl was already sexually active

The answer was D) Get the HPV vaccine.

In my opinion, this is like telling a girl the best way to avoid getting pregnant is to use birth control. I think that avoiding sexual contact would be the first suggestion made by a nurse to an adolescent with her mother. This is the answer I'd expect to be given at a Planned Parenthood.

[Me2006]

Well the MOST important health promotion action would by getting the vaccine as it is priority. the other options are also important but as you may recall the HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing precancerous cervical lesions/cancer.

[forgop]

Well the MOST important health promotion action would by getting the vaccine as it is priority. the other options are also important but as you may recall the HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing precancerous cervical lesions/cancer.

The HPV vaccine in itself isn't what prevents cervical cancer. An HPV infection increases the risk for cancer, so my logic says by abstaining from sexual contact prevents an HPV infection before a vaccine would have any chance to do its work.

Besides, if I was in a doctor's office with my adolescent daughter and the nurse/doctor proposed giving her the HPV vaccine and putting her on birth control, that's the last time we would see that doctor.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

Well, when said daughter is a little older and in college and making decisions (good or bad) for herself, she will have some protection against HPV which is nasty all by itself. Here's the deal, you (as the nurse) are suggesting a vaccine, the mom can decide what she wants for her daughter based on her set of values, not yours.

[forgop]

When she is no longer a minor child living in my home, my daughter is more than welcome to make that educated decision. This question pertained to an adolescent with a parent in the consultation, not when she's off to college.

[CHRISTINE HEARTS]

The key point is ways to help prevent cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine is a way. If you tell the patient to abstain from intercourse you are instilling your own thoughts and opinions and I don't think that is our job to do. The best way is educating the patient by informing both the mother and adolescent the risks involved in having intercourse. Helping them both to make informed decisions.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

How would you answer this question:

A nurse is counseling an adolescent patient and her mother about preventing cervical cancer. The most important health promotion action the nurse could suggest is to:

A) Abstain from alcohol

B) Avoid sexual intercourse

C) Do not start smoking

D) Get the HPV vaccine

I'll go ahead and present my argument-

Risk for cervical cancer is increased by the HPV virus, which is contacted through sexual intercourse. The question obviously didn't indicate that the girl was already sexually active

The answer was D) Get the HPV vaccine.

In my opinion, this is like telling a girl the best way to avoid getting pregnant is to use birth control. I think that avoiding sexual contact would be the first suggestion made by a nurse to an adolescent with her mother. This is the answer I'd expect to be given at a Planned Parenthood.

In Test World, vaccines are always the best primary intervention. You will see this over and over and over again.

Regarding your analogy, Planned Parenthood advises abstinence as the very best way to avoid STDs and pregnancy. However, they are smart enough to provide and educate about alternatives when individuals decide to not practice abstinence.

To add another analogy, your answer would be like telling someone to "avoid people who have the flu" instead of getting a flu vaccine.

[studentgolfer]

The HPV vaccine in itself isn't what prevents cervical cancer. An HPV infection increases the risk for cancer, so my logic says by abstaining from sexual contact prevents an HPV infection before a vaccine would have any chance to do its work.

Besides, if I was in a doctor's office with my adolescent daughter and the nurse/doctor proposed giving her the HPV vaccine and putting her on birth control, that's the last time we would see that doctor.

The question did not mention birth control I don't know where you got that from. The vaccine is always the best answer and as you cannot expect the adolescent to listen to you-a stranger-about sexual intercourse abstinence, the HPV vaccine is the best choice.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

The HPV vaccine in itself isn't what prevents cervical cancer. An HPV infection increases the risk for cancer, so my logic says by abstaining from sexual contact prevents an HPV infection before a vaccine would have any chance to do its work.

Besides, if I was in a doctor's office with my adolescent daughter and the nurse/doctor proposed giving her the HPV vaccine and putting her on birth control, that's the last time we would see that doctor.

Do you really think by telling them "no" is going to prevent intercourse? Do you think a teenager is going to admit to being sexually active with their parent in the room?

I think you are pretty naive to think that a teenage girl, sexually active or not, couldn't be in a situation one day where sex is on the table. You hope and pray that you have taught them enough to make the right decision, but you can't make those decisions for them. Hence there is no guarantee that a smooth talking, prom king, captain of the football team, doesn't sweet talk them into sex. This is why HPV vaccine is the answer and not "avoiding intercourse".

[mangopeach]

On a test, I would have gone with D.

You are saying "by my logic". I wouldn't use my own logic to answer test questions. My logic does not always jive with nursing logic when it comes to picking the right answer on a test. For instance I eat low carb and I don't follow the usual low fat mantra. But on a test I know that is the right answer. My own logic is not gonna work there.

Another reason I would not have gone with abstain from intercourse is that HPV can be transmitted without intercourse.

[atmananda]

When I see the word promotion, I think of what I can do rather than what I will not do..I also look for what is actually being asked. Adding details to a question will mess you up as will bringing your opinions and anecdotes into the exams with you. If you get too philosophical on these..you will think yourself right out of the correct answer :)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

The HPV vaccine in itself isn't what prevents cervical cancer. An HPV infection increases the risk for cancer, so my logic says by abstaining from sexual contact prevents an HPV infection before a vaccine would have any chance to do its work.

Besides, if I was in a doctor's office with my adolescent daughter and the nurse/doctor proposed giving her the HPV vaccine and putting her on birth control, that's the last time we would see that doctor.

Offering appropriate care to the adolescent female (your daughter) would cause you to cease using that PCP?

Sexual activity in the adolescent is physiologically normal. We, as a society, attempt to curtail this, frequently without much success! Yes, the vaccine is, currently, the correct answer.