264213 Barriers to HPV vaccine intentions among men participating in two psychosocial HPV studies

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Cheryl A. Vamos, PhD, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erica Hesch Anstey, MA, CLC , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie Kolar, MSPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Background: HPV, the most common STI, can cause genital warts and ano-genital cancers in men and women. The HPV vaccine protects against the four most common types of HPV and received FDA-approval for men 9-26 years in 2009. Little research has examined barriers to HPV vaccination among men.

Purpose: To examine barriers to HPV vaccination among men participating in two behavioral HPV studies.

Methods: Men participating in a HPV natural history study (n=536) and who were exposed to HPV information completed a computer-assisted survey (HPV study), and undergraduate men (n=203) with low HPV knowledge completed a paper-and-pencil survey (college study) that assessed intentions and barriers to vaccination.

Results: A higher proportion of men in the HPV study (91%) reported HPV vaccine intentions compared to the college study (5%). The most frequently reported reasons for not intending to get vaccinated were ‘cost' (66%) and ‘side effects' (63%) among HPV study men, and ‘Don't know/No reason' (52%) and ‘I'm not at risk for HPV' (20%) among college study men. Barriers emerging from qualitative data included concerns about safety and effectiveness among HPV study men, and lack of HPV and vaccine knowledge and ‘being male' among college study men.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that barriers to HPV vaccination may differ depending on men's level of knowledge. Future development of HPV vaccine messages may benefit from increasing knowledge followed by increasing perceived susceptibility and decreasing misconceptions among men in order to decrease HPV-associated morbidity and mortality among both sexes across the lifespan.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe the HPV vaccine for men and the importance of vaccinating both sexes in decreasing HPV-associated morbidity and mortality. 2. To assess barriers that may be preventing men from receiving the HPV vaccine. 3. To discuss future strategies and implications regarding increasing men’s uptake of the HPV vaccine.

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, STD Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the Co-Investigator on one of the studies and a Research Assistant on the other study described; and have experience in projects focusing on sexual and reproductive health.
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.

Back to: 3156.0: Male sexual health: HPV vaccines for boys