Factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) patient-clinician communication and HPV vaccine uptake among adults in the United States

Objective

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is approved for those aged 9–45 years. However, HPV vaccine uptake remains suboptimal in the United States (U.S.), particularly among young and mid-age adults. This paper describes HPV vaccine patient-clinician communication, clinician recommendation receipt, and HPV vaccine uptake among U.S. adults who were eligible for the HPV vaccine as adults.

Methods

U.S. adults up to age 45 and who were aged 18+ when the HPV vaccine was approved were recruited for an online survey (n = 1107) between February–March 2021. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess: (1) clinician-patient HPV vaccination discussions; (2) ever having received an HPV vaccine recommendation from a clinician; and (3) HPV vaccine uptake.

Results

Thirty-four percent of participants reported having prior HPV vaccine discussions with a clinician, 31.1 % reporting ever having received a clinician recommendation for the vaccine, and only 23.8 % reported receiving the vaccine. Receiving the HPV vaccine was positively associated with prior HPV vaccine discussions (aOR: 2.93; 95 % CI: 1.98–4.35) and ever receiving an HPV vaccine recommendation from a clinician (aOR: 10.64; 95 % CI: 7.14–15.88). Additional factors consistently associated with all three models (discussing, receiving a clinician recommendation, and vaccine uptake) include higher HPV vaccine knowledge and higher HPV vaccine embarrassment.

Conclusions

Unvaccinated age-eligible adults represent a missed opportunity for HPV-related cancer prevention. Interventions to support clinicians providing care to young and mid-age adults are needed to increase clinician discussions and recommendations of the HPV vaccine and patient uptake of the HPV vaccine.