Assessing Human Papillomavirus Awareness and the Role of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Education on Improving Intention to Vaccinate

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Assessing Human Papillomavirus Awareness and the Role of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Education on Improving Intention to Vaccinate Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis The current state of the U.S. public's knowledge of the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccinations to oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is unknown. Our objective was to 1) assess the general population's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and willingness to vaccinate, and 2) assess whether targeted education on HPV-related OPSCC can change intentions to vaccinate. Study Design Online cross-sectional survey. Methods An online, cross-sectional survey utilizing U.S. census-derived quotas to represent the U.S. population was distributed and analyzed to 517 adults in 2020. Results Exactly 72.7% of participants stated that they had or would vaccinate their child against HPV and were designated as "vaccinators." In multivariate regression, Black individuals were less likely to be vaccinators (OR 0.51 [95% CI 0.27–0.94]), but those who were aware of HPV's role in OPSCC were more likely to vaccinate (OR 2.56 [95% CI 1.47–4.46]). Knowledge about vaccination side-effects, eligibility, and mechanisms of HPV spread was low. Only 30.6% of the sample reported understanding the role of HPV in OPSCC. Of these, 43.0% gained this knowledge exclusively from nonhealthcare professional sources, like television. When presented with four short HPV-OPSCC-centered facts (HPV's role in OPSCC etiology, prevalence of infection, clinically silent course, and vaccine preventative effects), 54.0% of "nonvaccinators" indicated a willingness to change their minds. Conclusions General knowledge about HPV, HPV's role in OPSCC, and the vaccine remains low in the general population. There are racial disparities in willingness to vaccinate within this sample, but these may be overcome by effective education on HPV-related OPSCC. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.