Abstract
BackgroundThe incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is increasing in high income countries. HPV-associated OPC generally presents as an invasive disease, often with lymph node involvement, in relatively young patients with minimal or no history of smoking and alcohol consumption. Knowledge on HPV-associated OPC among primary care professionals is essential for disease recognition and early start of treatment.AimTo examine the knowledge on HPV-associated OPC among GPs in the Netherlands.Design & settingA cross-sectional postal survey among GPs in the Netherlands.MethodA 12-item questionnaire was sent to 900 randomly selected general practices. Outcome measures included awareness of the link between HPV and OPC, epidemiological trends, and patient characteristics. Data were statistically analysed for sex, years after graduation, and self-rated knowledge of OPC.ResultsA total of 207 GPs participated in this study. Seventy-two per cent recognised HPV as a risk factor for OPC and 76.3% were aware of the increasing incidence rate of HPV-associated OPC. In contrast, 35.7% of participants knew that patients with HPV-associated OPC are more often male, and just over half (53.6%) of the participants were aware of the younger age of these patients.ConclusionMore than one-quarter of GPs in the Netherlands are unaware of HPV as a causative factor for OPC. Furthermore, there is a gap in knowledge on characteristics of patients with HPV-associated OPC . Further training on these topics could improve disease recognition and, ultimately, patient survival.
Highlights
Head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most common cancer worldwide in 2018, accounting for 3% of all cancers.[1]
35.7% of participants knew that patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) are more often male, and just over half (53.6%) of the participants were aware of the younger age of these patients
Since HPV-associated OPC generally presents in a group of relatively young patients without typical risk factors, disease recognition can pose challenges for GPs without detailed knowledge of the disease and corresponding patient characteristics
Summary
Head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most common cancer worldwide in 2018, accounting for 3% of all cancers.[1] Five-year, age-s tandardised relative survival rates range from 25–60%, depending on anatomical location, HPV status, and stage at diagnosis.[2] HNC is usually diagnosed in older patients in association with tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption.[3,4,5] In addition, infection with high-risk HPV, primarily HPV type 16, has been recognised as a major risk factor for the development of HNC, OPC. As a result of the worldwide decline in tobacco use, the incidence of HNC has decreased over recent decades. HPV-associated OPC generally presents as an invasive disease, often with lymph node involvement, in relatively young patients with minimal or no history of smoking and alcohol consumption. Knowledge on HPV-a ssociated OPC among primary care professionals is essential for disease recognition and early start of treatment
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