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Many Lack Knowledge of Link Between HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 18, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2024 -- Knowledge of the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is poor and did not improve from 2018 to 2020, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Oluwatobiloba O. Ayo-Ajibola, from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and colleagues queried the Health Information National Trends Survey, including 3,504 adults in 2018 and 3,865 in 2020, for knowledge of HPV, its vaccine, and its association with OPSCC, focusing on adults aged 27 to 45 years.

The researchers found that in 2018 and 2020, most respondents were aware of HPV (60.8 and 64.8 percent, respectively) and its vaccine (60.8 and 61.6 percent, respectively). Between 2018 and 2020, there was a significant decrease seen in awareness of the association between HPV and cervical cancer (75.0 to 70.2 percent). Knowledge of the association between HPV and OPSCC was poor, with no change over time (27.0 and 29.5 percent in 2018 and 2020, respectively). Individuals who reported completing high school as their highest level of education, Caucasians, men, and those making more than $200,000 annually had a significant increase in HPV awareness between 2018 and 2020.

"Low awareness of HPV‐associated oral cancer, notably among newly eligible patients, may impede prevention in the form of HPV vaccination," the authors write. "There are ample opportunities for otolaryngologists, primary care physicians, and public health initiatives to promote clear and accessible information on HPV‐associated cancer risks and increase vaccination rates."

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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Posted December 2024

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