Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #155863

• Slides (pdf) or Handout

Ellen Daley, PhD¹, Anna Giuliano, PhD², Julie Baldwin, PhD³, Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD, CHES⁴, Ji-Hyun Lee, PhD², Susan Vadaparampil, PhD², Martha Abrahamsen, MPH², Cheryl Vamos, MPH¹, Stephanie Kolar, MSPH¹, Rasheeta Chandler, RN, MS⁴, and Erica Anstey³. (1) Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, (2) Program Leader: Risk Assessment, Detection, and Intervention, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-CANCONT, Tampa, FL 33612, (3) University of South Florida College of Public Health, Community and Family Health, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, (4) College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-974-5290, ebuhi@health.usf.edu

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted virus responsible for genital warts and cervical cancer, can produce complex and disturbing reactions upon diagnosis. Cognitive and emotional responses to an HPV-diagnosis are well-documented among women, but unknown among men.

Methods: An instrument designed to assess cognitive and emotional responses to an HPV diagnosis was developed for males enrolled in a natural history study of HPV in men. The survey, based upon theoretical constructs of Leventhal's Parallel Processing Model was administered among a small cohort of men in the study. Demographic characteristics were collected and questions about HPV knowledge, perceived threat of an HPV infection, and response efficacy were asked.

Results: Thirty men completed the survey; most were young, single and white with some college education; half were HPV+ and half HPV-. Of the 30 men, 23% (7) did not correctly report their HPV test results. Knowledge of HPV ranged from 15-95 out of a score of 100. There were no significant differences between positive and negative men in knowledge or perceived threat; only the construct related to ability to disclose results and make suggestions for their sexual partners, response-efficacy, was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.02).

Conclusion: Male partners can play a critical role in cervical cancer prevention efforts. Understanding men's knowledge and appraisal processes concerning an HPV diagnosis may be part of addressing issues such as disclosure of an HPV diagnosis, suggesting cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine to their partners and decreasing risky sexual behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. To identify cognitive and emotional responses to HPV test results in men
• 2. To describe the role that men may play in disclosure of HPV results to their sexual partners
• 3. To identify the development of a cognitive and emotional survey instrument for this unique population

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Reproductive Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout