Knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners and sexual health care professionals regarding human papillomavirus vaccination for young men who have sex with men
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Authors
Merriel, Samuel W. D.
Flannagan, Carrie
Kesten, Joanna M.
Shapiro, Gilla K.
Nadarzynski, Tom
Prue, Gillian
Issue Date
2018-01-18
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Vaccine Uptake , Vaccine Communication , Sexual Minorities , Papillomaviruses
Alternative Title
Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) may be at higher risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. Healthcare professionals’ recommendations can affect HPV vaccination uptake. Since 2016, MSM up to 45 years have been offered HPV vaccination at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in a pilot programme, and primary care was recommended as a setting for opportunistic vaccination. Vaccination prior to potential exposure to the virus (i.e., sexual debut) is likely to be most efficacious, therefore a focus on young MSM (YMSM) is important. This study aimed to explore and compare the knowledge and attitudes of UK General Practitioners (GPs) and sexual healthcare professionals (SHCPs) regarding HPV vaccination for YMSM (age 16–24). A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire examined 38 GPs and 49 SHCPs, including 59 (67.82%) females with a mean age of 40.71 years. Twenty-two participants (20 SHCPs, p < 0.001) had vaccinated a YMSM patient against HPV. GPs lack of time (25/38, 65.79%) and SHCP staff availability (27/49, 55.10%) were the main reported factors preventing YMSM HPV vaccination. GPs were less likely than SHCPs to believe there was sufficient evidence for vaccinating YMSM (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.47); less likely to have skills to identify YMSM who may benefit from vaccination (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.15); and less confident recommending YMSM vaccination (OR = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.01). GPs appear to have different knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding YMSM HPV vaccination when compared to SHCPs.
Description
Citation
Merriel, S. W. D., Flannagan, C., Kesten, J. M., Shapiro, G. K., Nadarzynski, T., & Prue, G. (2018). Knowledge and Attitudes of General Practitioners and Sexual Health Care Professionals Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(1), 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010151
Publisher
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health