Using theory of planned behavior to examine HPV vaccination among college students

Background: HPV is a salient public health issue and primary cause of cervical cancer. Women under the age of 25 are at highest risk for HPV infection with the typical prevalence between 28% and 46%. The HPV vaccine can help reduce the spread of HPV and alleviate costs associated with the disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial determinants that can contribute to the behavior of getting the HPV vaccine by utilizing the Theory of Planned behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework.

Methods: Data was collected from 279 college women at a large Midwest university. The TPB-based quantitative survey was developed using a salient-belief elicitation method and included 98 items including demographic and health behavior variables as well as TPB constructs. Multiple and sequential multiple regression were conducted to examine predictors of intention to get the HPV vaccine.

Results: Results indicated that age, perceived susceptibility and severity to cervical cancer, attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control were the primary determinants influencing vaccination behavior among females (R2 = 0.55). In addition, the global constructs of TPB--attitude (β=0.36), norm (β=0.40), and perceived behavioral control (β=0.13)--predicted intention to get the HPV vaccine above and beyond the demographic and health behavior variables.

Implications: Utilizing theory-based approaches to design interventions may be beneficial to increase vaccination behavior among college females. Interventions designed to change individuals' attitudes, perceived societal norms, and remove perceived barriers of getting the HPV vaccine may be the most effective in increasing vaccination rates among college females.