ASPO Abstracts
Racial Differences in HPV Vaccine Awareness Among Women in HINTS: Role of trust in cancer information from doctors and HPV-related communications
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Purpose: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. and is linked to cervical and other cancers. The HPV vaccine can prevent most HPV-related cancers, yet uptake of the vaccine is low. The objective of this study was to: (1) Describe awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine in a multi-ethnic, nationally representative sample; and (2) evaluate potential predictors of HPV and HPV vaccine awareness, like trust in cancer information from doctors, prior discussions about the HPV vaccine with doctors, and HPV vaccine recommendations from doctors. Methods: Data from women in the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey were evaluated (HINTS 4, Cycle 4, N=2158). The primary outcomes were having heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine. Bivariate analyses assessed differences in observed proportions by race/ethnicity and two separate multivariate logistic regressions assessed predictors of HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. Results: In bivariate analyses, no differences in HPV awareness were observed for White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and “Other” women (p=0.13). However, there was a significant difference in awareness of the HPV vaccine (p=0.01). White women had the greatest awareness (80%), compared to Black (66%), Hispanic (68%), Asian (67%), and “Other” women (82%). In logistic regression, race/ethnicity, age, education, and prior discussions with a doctor about the HPV vaccine were significantly associated with HPV awareness. For example, Black women were 58% less likely to have heard of HPV compared to White women (OR=0.42; CI: 0.19, 0.94, p=0.035). Also from logistic regression, having heard of HPV, having had prior discussions with a doctor about the HPV vaccine, and Hispanic ethnicity were significantly associated with awareness of the HPV vaccine. Compared to White women, Hispanic women were 81% less likely to have heard of the vaccine (OR=0.19; CI: 0.04, 0.79, p=0.02).Trust in cancer information from a doctor was not associated with awareness of HPV nor the HPV vaccine. Conclusions: Discussions with doctors are associated with awareness of the HPV vaccine. Strategies to enhance patient-provider communication may increase HPV vaccine awareness and uptake in diverse women over time.
Keywords: HPV, HPV vaccine, patient- provider communication, disparities