Reasons and influential recommendations associated with HPV vaccination among Chinese college students in the USA

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 69; no. 6; pp. 602 - 609
• Main Authors: Tung, Wei-Chen, Lu, Minggen, Langowski, Joey, Qiu, Xiangwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 31.08.2021; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Age Differences; Asians; Chinese college student; College Students; Decision Making; Dosage; Foreign Students; Gender Differences; Health Insurance; Health promotion; Health Services; HPV vaccination; Human papillomavirus; Immunization; Immunization Programs; Influences; Information Sources; Knowledge Level; Majors (Students); Physicians; reasons; recommendation; Self report; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Student Attitudes; Uptake; Vaccines; United States > US; Chinese college student; recommendation; reasons; HPV vaccination
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1705831

To evaluate (a) reasons for not receiving recommended doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, (b) the most influential recommending source in getting the HPV vaccine, and (c) associated factors among Chinese college students in the United States. A cross-sectional design utilizing a structured self-report questionnaire was used. A network sample of 449 participants aged 18 or older completed the survey between March and May of 2018. Only 172 participants (38.3%) had received the HPV vaccine. The most common reason was that participants had never received recommendations from healthcare providers regarding HPV vaccines. Recommendations from doctors were the most cited source in deciding HPV vaccine uptake. Factors associated with reasons and recommendation sources included attitudes toward HPV, gender, school year, age, major, and health insurance. Healthcare providers play an important role in promoting HPV vaccination among Chinese college students. More research is needed for this understudied population.