The Acceptability of HPV Vaccines and Perceptions of Vaccination against HPV among Physicians and Nurses in Hong Kong

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 May 14;16(10):1700. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101700.

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections nationwide. Methods: This is the first cross-sectional survey assessing physicians' and nurses' knowledge of HPV and recording their attitudes to HPV vaccination in Hong Kong. Survey questions were derived from the Health Belief Model. Results: 1152 clinicians (170 physicians and 982 nurses) aged 21 and 60 participated in this study. A multiple stepwise regression model was used to examine associations between cognitive factors (clinicians' attitudes) and subjects' intention to HPV vaccine uptake. Results showed that only 30.2% of physicians and 21.2% nurses found vaccinating for HPV acceptable. Conclusions: Perceived self-efficacy was the only significant background and cognitive variable associated with physicians' and nurses' accepting HPV vaccines. Further, when nurses found HPV vaccination acceptable, cues to action was featured as a significant background variable in their choice.

Keywords: HPV vaccine; acceptability; nurses; physicians; self-efficacy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Hong Kong
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurses / psychology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / psychology
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vaccination / psychology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Papillomavirus Vaccines