title: Predictors of human papillomavirus awareness and knowledge in 2013: gaps and opportunities for targeted communication strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nearly 80 million people in the U.S. are currently infected with at least one of two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is associated with 70% of cervical cancers. Greater cervical cancer mortality has been observed among women of lower SES and those living in rural, versus urban, areas. African American and Hispanic women are significantly more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Hispanic white women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess current population awareness of and knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, as well as the contribution of sociodemographic characteristics to disparities in HPV awareness and knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's 2013 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS; N=3,185). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify gaps in awareness and knowledge by sex, education, income, race/ethnicity, geographic area, and other important sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses were conducted in 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight percent of Americans had heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine. Consistent with the Knowledge Gap Hypothesis, awareness and knowledge were patterned by sex, age, education, and other important sociodemographic factors. Those in rural areas were less likely than those in urban areas to know that HPV causes cervical cancer. Less than 5% of Americans were aware that HPV often clears on its own without treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although awareness and knowledge of HPV is increasing, there are opportunities to target communication with populations for whom knowledge gaps currently exist, in order to promote dialogue about the vaccine among patients and their providers.
authors.affiliation: Branches of Health Communication and Informatics Research, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. Electronic address: kelly.blake@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Science of Research and Technology, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ottenbacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Lila J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Finney Rutten
authors.affiliation: Branches of Health Communication and Informatics Research, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Meredith A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.affiliation: Process of Care Research, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kobrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Branches of Health Communication and Informatics Research, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Bradford W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines