title: Public awareness of human papillomavirus as a causative factor for oropharyngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the public's awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) as a causative factor for oropharyngeal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three-item survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local shopping malls and Maxwell Air Force Base in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents were randomly chosen to participate in 23-item survey at various local shopping malls and at Maxwell Air Force Base in 2012. The χ(2) test was used in statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of respondents (n = 319) were civilians; 158 were military officer trainees (MOTs). All MOTs had a bachelor's degree or higher, while 37% of civilian respondents had a bachelor's degree or higher. Most MOTs (82%) were aware of oropharyngeal cancer, and 53% of civilians had not heard of oropharyngeal cancer (P < .0001). Most respondents (73% civilian and 91% military) were aware of the association between HPV and cervical cancer. Conversely, 75% of civilian population and 49% of MOTs were not aware of the association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer (P < .0001). The majority of respondents (61% military and 81% civilian) did not know that both sexes were eligible for HPV vaccine (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most respondents were aware that HPV is a causative agent of cervical cancer. However, the majority were not aware of the association between oropharyngeal cancer and HPV. Furthermore, many respondents were not aware that HPV equally affects males and females and that the vaccine is available for both sexes. This underscores the need to educate the public on the availability of HPV vaccine and the association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Michael U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Michele M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA dgoldenberg@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001364:Awareness; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: HPV; cancer; head and neck; military; oropharyngeal; oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer; otolaryngology; papilloma; public; vaccine