Human papillomavirus knowledge and vaccine acceptability among a national sample of heterosexual men.
OBJECTIVE
If approved for use in young males in the United States, prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may reduce the incidence of HPV-related disease in vaccinated males and their sexual partners. We aimed to characterise heterosexual men's willingness to get HPV vaccine and identify correlates of vaccine acceptability.


METHODS
Participants were from a national sample of heterosexual men (n=297) aged 18-59 y from the United States who were interviewed in January 2009. We analysed data using multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Most men had not heard of HPV prior to the study or had low HPV knowledge (81%; 239/296). Most men had heard of HPV vaccine prior to the study (63%; 186/296) and 37% (109/296) were willing to get HPV vaccine. Men were more willing to get vaccinated if they reported higher perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.17), perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.83) or anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and an HPV infection later developed (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.89). Acceptability was also higher among men who thought (OR 9.02, 95% CI 3.45 to 23.60) or who were unsure (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.30 to 5.47) if their doctor would recommend they get HPV vaccine if licensed for males.


CONCLUSIONS
Men had low HPV knowledge and were moderately willing to get HPV vaccine. These findings underscore the need for HPV educational efforts for men and provide insight into some of the factors that may affect the HPV vaccination decision making process among men.
Reiter
Paul L
PL
University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7440, USA. preiter@email.unc.edu
Brewer
Noel T
NT
Smith
Jennifer S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012423:Rural Health; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines