TY - JOUR
T1 - Discussing HPV and oropharyngeal cancer in dental settings
T2 - gender and provider-type matter
AU - Daley, Ellen M.
AU - Thompson, Erika L.
AU - Beckstead, Jason
AU - Driscoll, Annelise
AU - Vamos, Cheryl
AU - Piepenbrink, Rumour P.
AU - Desch, Jill
AU - Merrell, Laura
AU - Richardson Cayama, Morgan B.
AU - Owens, Heather
AU - Lovett, Sharonda M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US and the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), an oral cancer most often identified by dental providers. Given the rise in HPV-associated OPC and recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the HPV vaccine to prevent OPC, dental providers have a unique role in HPV prevention. This study assessed US adults’ comfort levels discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers. An online survey platform was used to recruit a nationally representative sample of US adults (n = 300). The questionnaire assessed participants’ knowledge, acceptability, and comfort discussing HPV-related topics with dental providers. SPSS 24 was utilized for data analyses. In general, participants reported feeling comfortable discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers. Participants reported feeling more comfortable with dentists than dental hygienists when discussing (t = 2.85, p < .01) and receiving recommendations about the HPV vaccine (t = 2.09, p < .05). Participants were less comfortable discussing HPV as a risk factor for OPC compared to non-HPV related risk factors (t = 2.94, p < .01). Female participants preferred female providers, whereas male participants had no preference. Previous research has indicated dental providers recognize their role in HPV prevention, but research is needed to understand patients’ perceptions of dental providers’ role in HPV prevention. Findings demonstrate that US adults are comfortable discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers, which may be key to OPC-HPV prevention. Future research is needed to facilitate HPV communication between patients and dental providers.
AB - Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US and the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), an oral cancer most often identified by dental providers. Given the rise in HPV-associated OPC and recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the HPV vaccine to prevent OPC, dental providers have a unique role in HPV prevention. This study assessed US adults’ comfort levels discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers. An online survey platform was used to recruit a nationally representative sample of US adults (n = 300). The questionnaire assessed participants’ knowledge, acceptability, and comfort discussing HPV-related topics with dental providers. SPSS 24 was utilized for data analyses. In general, participants reported feeling comfortable discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers. Participants reported feeling more comfortable with dentists than dental hygienists when discussing (t = 2.85, p < .01) and receiving recommendations about the HPV vaccine (t = 2.09, p < .05). Participants were less comfortable discussing HPV as a risk factor for OPC compared to non-HPV related risk factors (t = 2.94, p < .01). Female participants preferred female providers, whereas male participants had no preference. Previous research has indicated dental providers recognize their role in HPV prevention, but research is needed to understand patients’ perceptions of dental providers’ role in HPV prevention. Findings demonstrate that US adults are comfortable discussing HPV and OPC with dental providers, which may be key to OPC-HPV prevention. Future research is needed to facilitate HPV communication between patients and dental providers.
KW - HPV vaccine
KW - HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer
KW - dental providers
KW - oropharyngeal cancer risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121418398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/21645515.2021.1996809
DO - 10.1080/21645515.2021.1996809
M3 - Article
C2 - 34890526
AN - SCOPUS:85121418398
SN - 2164-5515
VL - 17
SP - 5454
EP - 5459
JO - Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
JF - Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
IS - 12
ER -