title: Interest in having HPV vaccination among adolescent boys in England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that boys aged 11-12 be vaccinated against HPV to reduce the risk of genital warts and HPV-related cancers. No recommendation has been made in England although there have been calls to widen access to the vaccine. This study aimed to assess boys' willingness to have HPV vaccination, eliciting reasons for their decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  528 boys aged 16-18 years completed a questionnaire in school. Measures included demographic characteristics, HPV awareness, willingness to have the vaccine, and reasons for the vaccine decision. Coding of open responses was informed by social cognition model constructs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large proportion of the sample (41%) intended to have the vaccine, however, slightly more were unsure (49%) and a small number (10%) would not get vaccinated. Uncertainty was associated with lack of previous awareness of HPV and perceived lack of adequate information. Boys who would not have the vaccine did not feel at risk or did not see the need for it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data suggest that HPV vaccination may be acceptable to boys, and confirm previous findings that information is vital in the decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Laura A V
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003657:Decision Making; D004739:England; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines