A Multi-state Evaluation of Oral Health Students’ Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer and HPV Vaccination

• Published in: Journal of cancer education Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 1017 - 1025
• Main Authors: Rutkoski, Holdunn, Tay, Djin L., Dixon, Barbara L., Pinzon, Lilliam M., Mooney, Ryan, Winkler, James R., Kepka, Deanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alphapapillomavirus - isolation & purification; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Chi-square test; Dental Health; Dental schools; Dentistry; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Hygiene; Immunization; Knowledge; Knowledge Level; Laryngeal cancer; Male; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - virology; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Papillomavirus Vaccines - administration & dosage; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Sociodemographics; Student Participation; Students; Students, Dental - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Throat cancer; United States - epidemiology; Vaccination - psychology; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; United States; United States > US; Human papillomavirus; Dentistry; Knowledge; Oropharyngeal cancer; Oral health
• ISSN: 0885-8195; 1543-0154
• DOI: 10.1007/s13187-019-01561-y

Human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancers (HPV-OPCs) are on the rise, yet HPV knowledge among dental professionals remains low. The purpose of this multi-state study was to examine sociodemographic factors associated with final year dental hygiene (DH), third year dental (DS3), and fourth year dental (DS4) students’ knowledge regarding HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination. Twenty dental programs in the USA were approached in the implementation phase to complete an online, 153-item, self-administered questionnaire that was developed and tested in a previous study. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were conducted in SAS version 9.4 to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables with HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination knowledge levels. This study included the participation of students from 15 dental programs ( n  = 380) with an overall response rate of 28%. Although the results cannot be generalized to the entire population of dental students in the USA, most students had inadequate overall HPV knowledge (65%), HPV-OPC knowledge (80%), and HPV vaccination knowledge (55%). While all student groups displayed adequate general HPV knowledge levels (≥ 70% correct responses), gender, racial, religious, age, and regional differences were observed. Future dental professionals need to have adequate levels of HPV knowledge to aid in reducing the HPV-OPC burden. This study identified sociodemographic factors related to lower knowledge of HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination, and highlights groups of students with greater needs for HPV education. This study provides a foundation for future research and interventions to be developed. Dental institutions can use findings to strengthen curricula development.