182417 Characteristics of males participating in the Cognitive and Emotional Responses to an HPV-diagnosis Study (CER Study)

Monday, October 27, 2008: 2:50 PM

Ellen Daley, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Anna Giuliano, PhD , Program Leader: Risk Assessment, Detection, and Intervention, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD, CHES , College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Julie Baldwin, PhD , Center for Equal Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Martha Abrahamsen, MPH , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Cheryl A. Vamos, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie K. Kolar, MSPH , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Background: HPV is the most common STI and >50% of sexually active males/females are infected at some point in their lives. Previous research has examined psychosocial responses regarding receiving an HPV diagnosis among females but not among males; the CER Study has a unique opportunity to fill this gap.

Purpose: To describe characteristics of males participating in a cognitive and emotional response to an HPV-diagnosis study.

Methods: Males enrolled in an HPV natural history of infection study completed a computer-assisted-survey instrument (CASI) post-diagnosis. Demographics and sexual history information were tabulated.

Results: Mean age of males who completed the survey (n=116) was 27 years (SD=11.94; range 18-67 years). Males described themselves as White (74%), Hispanic (13%), Asian (12%), or Black (10%); most were unmarried/single (75%) and had some college credit but no degree (54%). Males self-reported being HPV+ (n=37), HPV- (n=59), or were unsure of their diagnosis (n=20). Eight percent reported being previously diagnosed with an STI. The mean lifetime number of female sexual partners among those who reported having sex with a female was 13 (range 1 to 127; SD=24.0); the mean among those reporting having sex with a male was 3 (range of 2 to 4; SD=1).

Conclusion: Although this sample of males is not generalizable, the CER study has the unique opportunity to capture males' cognitive and emotional responses to an HPV-diagnosis (see companion presentations). Males play a key role in HPV transmission and findings obtained can be included in interventions aimed at preventing HPV and cervical cancer.

Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the background and methodological underpinnings of a study assessing psychosocial responses to an HPV diagnosis among males. 2. To discuss males' role in the prevention of HPV and various cancers, including cervical cancer. 3. To describe the demographic and sexual history characteristics of males participating in the Cognitive and Emotional Responses to an HPV Diagnosis Study (CER Study).

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator on this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

See more of: HPV: Not Just a Women's Health Issue
See more of: Women's Caucus