title: Prevention of HPV-related oral cancer: assessing dentists' readiness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological research indicates an association between the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) with a subset of oral cancers (OC). Dentists may play a role in primary prevention of HPV-related OC by discussing the HPV vaccine with patients. This study assessed dentists' readiness to discuss the HPV vaccine with female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional web-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey based on the Transtheoretical Model was administered among Florida dentists (n = 210).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants (97%) fell into the precontemplation and contemplation stages of readiness to discuss the HPV vaccine with patients. Perceived role and liability were determined to be predictive of dentists in contemplation stage as opposed to those in precontemplation (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest liability and perceived role as processes of change necessary to guide dentists to primary prevention of HPV-related OC despite high levels of knowledge. As public awareness of HPV-related OC increases, dentists may become more involved in primary prevention. Results of the current study may assist in developing intervention strategies for engaging dentists in discussing the HPV vaccine with patients.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA. Electronic address: edaley@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeBate
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vamos
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wheldon
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Public Health, Center for Transdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D011322:Primary Prevention
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: HPV vaccination; Oral cancer; Prevention; Public health