2022: US Adults' Perceptions about HPV Vaccination and Dental Providers' Role in HPV Prevention

Published 11/30/2022
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Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) are the most common cancers of all HPV cancers and can be prevented using HPV vaccines.

However, HPV vaccine rates are far from Healthy People 2020 or 2030 goals. This study examined adults’ HPV vaccine knowledge and perceptions in the context of oral health. During this presentation, Megan Cloidt, DDS, MPH, shared data from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and NORC at the University of Chicago recently nationally representative State of Oral Health Equity in America (SOHEA) survey in January-February 2022.

Participants were asked about their knowledge of HPV and oral health and whether their oral health care provider ever recommended the HPV vaccine.

Principal findings included:

  • Adults are knowledgeable about the role of HPV vaccines in preventing OPC and felt confident receiving recommendations about HPV vaccines from dental providers.
  • Integrating effective communication strategies with oral health providers can build patient awareness of the importance of the HPV vaccine for the prevention of OPC and other cancers.