Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common genital tract virus infection and can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. This multicenter study examined HPV information sources, vaccine hesitancy, and the association between the two variables. An online survey of HPV information sources and vaccine hesitancy was conducted among Chinese medical students. The World Health Organization (WHO) Vaccine Hesitancy 3Cs model was used to evaluate reasons for respondents' vaccine hesitancy. A probit model was used to investigate the association between vaccine information sources and vaccine hesitancy. The reported rate of vaccine hesitancy was 62.36%. Convenience was the primary factor for vaccine hesitancy in medical students, and 19% used a single source to obtain vaccine information. A multivariate analysis revealed that master degree and above were 33% less likely to be hesitant about the HPV vaccine than first grade students. Respondents receiving HPV information through doctor were 8% less likely to report vaccine hesitancy than those receiving information from other information channels. HPV vaccine hesitancy requires more attention. Future studies could examine whether increasing vaccination locations and dissemination of information about the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccines as well as using Internet media would help reduce medical students' vaccine hesitancy and expand HPV vaccine coverage.
Highlights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common genital tract infection virus
The formal survey was conducted from mid-January to the end of March, and a crosssectional multicenter survey on HPV information sources and hesitancy was conducted for medical students at the school
The study found a high degree of HPV vaccine hesitancy among the people surveyed, with more than 60% of the respondents reporting hesitancy about the HPV vaccine
Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common genital tract infection virus. Most sexually active women and men will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives, some repeatedly [1]. HPV plays a role in the development of skin diseases such as head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, male genital cancer, and condyloma acuminatum. Almost all cases of cervical cancer (99%) are associated with high-risk HPV infection [4]. The prevalence of HPV-related head and neck cancer, especially throat cancer, is increasing rapidly. It is expected that the number of patients with HPV-positive throat cancer will exceed that of patients with cervical cancer in the 15–20 years [6]
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