HPV Vaccine Trends and Role of the Dental Provider in the Promotion of the HPV Vaccine: Gaps and Opportunities for Cancer Prevention and Collaboration

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC). In the United States, there were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018. Nearly 70% of OPCs are caused by HPV. To prevent HPV infections, safe and effective HPV vaccines are available, but the uptake remains low. Thus, it is important to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge about the HPV vaccine overall and in the context of oral cancers and OPC as well as the public's perception about the role of dental providers in HPV vaccination.

Methods: A nationally representative survey designed by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health collected information on attitudes, experiences, and behaviors on oral health among adults in early 2021. The survey included an HPV module, which asked questions about adult perceptions about the HPV vaccine. Descriptive analyses were conducted and Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between HPV knowledge and attitudes, and respondent characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the adjusted associations between HPV knowledge, behavior, and attitudes of respondents.

Results: Final sample included 5,320 adults aged 18 years and above. Preliminary findings from the survey suggest that 32% of adults agreed that the HPV vaccine is very important for preventing cancers of the throat and mouth, but only 9% thought that HPV was linked to the health of teeth, mouth and gums. More than half (55%) of respondents reported that an oral health provider was qualified to provide education on the HPV vaccine and that they were comfortable discussing the HPV vaccine (58%) with an oral health provider and consenting to it if the oral health provider recommended it (55%). Respondents who thought HPV was linked to the health of the teeth, mouth and gums were 2.8 times more likely to agree about the importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cancers of the mouth and throat compared to respondents who didn’t think that HPV was linked to the health of the teeth, mouth and gums.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that knowledge about HPV and oral health linkage among US adults is low, but many adults agree that the HPV vaccine can prevent cancers of the throat and mouth. Attitudes about the HPV vaccine were associated with HPV knowledge and dental provider recommendation. With known association between OPC and HPV, the role of a dental provider will continue to expand. HPV vaccination can be improved through collaboration between medical and dental disciplines. Effective communication and messaging strategies through trusted resources can build patient awareness of the benefits and risks associated with HPV, its relationship with OPC and the importance of the HPV vaccine for cancer prevention.