Examining the Underlying Determinants of Getting the HPV Vaccine: An Application of the Reasoned Action Approach

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer in the US. Although the HPV vaccine has been available since 2006 to provide protection against the most common strains of HPV, many women have been vaccinated. The goal of this study was to utilize the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to examine intention to get the HPV vaccine by specifically examining the three global constructs of RAA (attitude, perceived norm, perceived behavioral control) and compare the underlying belief structure of women who have received the HPV vaccine with those who have not.

Methods: Women who received (n=320) and did not received the vaccine (n=279) participated in a survey assessing constructs from the RAA. A sequential multiple regression and multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) were conducted to examine intention to get the vaccine and compare differences between the two groups of women in terms of underlying belief structure.

Results: Findings indicate that attitude, perceived norm and perceived behavioral control predicted intention to get a HPV vaccine above and beyond demographic characteristics and preventative health behaviors. Additionally, results from the MANOVA revealed that women who have been vaccinated have a more positive attitude towards the vaccine, have higher perceived norm, and have higher self-efficacy compared to females who have never had the vaccine.

Implications: To improve vaccination rates, interventions should focus on changing attitude and increasing self-efficacy. Given the differences between vaccinated and un-vaccinated women, obtaining the vaccine may have larger implications in terms of overall health than just HPV prevention.