Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120323

Heather M. Brandt, PhD, CHES, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, 2221 Devine Street Room 228, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-734-4428, hbrandt@sc.edu, Patricia A. Sharpe, PhD, MPH, Prevention Research Center, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 730 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208, and Donna H. McCree, PhD, MPH, RPh, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Interventions and Research Branch, 1600 Clifton Rd Mailstop E-44, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name given to a group of viruses that affect the skin. Some types of HPV affect the genital area. Genital HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States with an estimated 5.5 million people acquiring a new infection each year. The main disease outcomes of genital HPV infection in the United States are genital warts (caused by low-risk or nononcogenic types of HPV) and cervical dysplasia/cervical cancer (caused by high-risk or oncogenic types of HPV). Cervical cancer is very rare with an estimated 10,500 women being diagnosed in 2004. Very few people, including women and men diagnosed with HPV, know about HPV and its link to genital warts and cancer. Cervical dysplasia caused by high-risk types of HPV can be detected by routine Pap tests. An HPV DNA test is now available and FDA-approved for triage of women with equivocal Pap test results and for primary screening in conjunction with Pap tests for women 30 years and older. Many patients react with shock and anger when told of their positive HPV diagnosis. Female and male patients, clinicians, and health information seekers need access to culturally-sensitive and linguistically-appropriate HPV educational messages and materials. These educational efforts are critical because it is likely that a HPV vaccine will be available in the near future.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, the participant will be able to

(
• identify and explain the two categories of HPV infection and their significance; (
• describe social and behavioral science implications of HPV; (
• understand and explain the HPV educational needs of patients, clinicians, public health practitioners, and the general public; and (
• discuss the potential impact of a vaccine for some types of HPV.

Keywords: Women's Health, Cervical Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation