US medical students' willingness to offer the HPV vaccine by vaccination status.
We surveyed third-year medical students to assess whether personal vaccination status was associated with willingness to recommend the human papillomavirus vaccine to patients. A total of 231 students completed an anonymous survey evaluating their knowledge, attitudes, and personal vaccine history. Of 122 female students, 81 (66.4%) reported initiating the vaccine, as did 16 of 109 males (14.7%). Females and students ⩽25years old were more likely to be vaccinated. Knowledge did not vary by vaccination status, but anticipated behaviors did. Vaccinated students reported greater willingness to vaccinate adolescents before 15-16years of age (92.1% vs. 78.6%, p=0.008) and discuss vaccination at any type of medical visit (100% vs. 89.7%, p<0.001). Our findings suggest that prior experiences with the HPV vaccine may influence a provider's future actions. Thus, interventions that increase awareness of this relationship as well as vaccination rates among health care students may be beneficial.
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, United States. Electronic address: abberens@utmb.edu.
Abbey B
AB
Berenson
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, United States.
Jacqueline M
JM
Hirth
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, United States.
Erika L
EL
Fuchs
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, United States.
D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
Attitudes; Cancer prevention; HPV vaccine; Human papillomavirus (HPV); Medical students; Self-care