Knowledge regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus and acceptance of vaccination in Korean adult men

Men's awareness of cervical cancer: a qualitative study

BACKGROUNDS

As HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, men are crucial in the prevention of cervical cancer, but research about men's awareness on cervical cancer is limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated men's awareness toward women's cervical cancer, to thoroughly understand the viewpoints of men, and to emphasize the centrality of the role of men in the prevention of cervical cancer.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive design was chosen to explore men's awareness of women's cervical cancer. Twelve men aged 20-58 were interviewed. Snowball sampling was conducted to recruit participants.

RESULTS

Most participants stated that they were not interested in women's health, and that they did not have much knowledge about cause and prevention of cervical cancer. They acknowledged that cervical cancer was different from other cancers, based on cause and prognosis of disease. The recognition of cervical cancer in participants varied widely depending on their relationship with women. Respondents' recognition of cervical cancer was classified into four types based on a Situational Awareness (SA) model including individual factors (knowledge about cervical cancer, interest in women's health) and system/task factors (relationship with women, men's responsibility).

CONCLUSION

This study is one of the few studies describing men's awareness on cervical cancer. Korean men's awareness level was low, and their concern and knowledge were not good. Some participants thought that cervical cancer can be treated, can be prevented, and is recognized as a disease of a female with men intervening. Our participants perceived that the role of men is necessary for the prevention of cervical cancer. Therefore, a strategy is needed to develop the awareness and knowledge of men on cervical cancer prevention. When planning cervical cancer education for men, phase and type-specific approaches are required, depending on perception level.

A study on the predictors of Korean male students' intention to receive human papillomavirus vaccination

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The objective was to survey the current state of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and the predictors of vaccination intention among Korean male students of high school (ages 15-19) and university (ages 17-27).

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infectious agent causing uterine cervical, anal, and/or penile cancer and genital warts in males and females. Infection rate of human papillomavirus increases from the age when sexual intercourse first occurs. Therefore, motivation to receive human papillomavirus vaccination is needed to protect infection.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive survey was performed only in male students. They are less aware of human papillomavirus than females, because human papillomavirus vaccination has been targeted on females for preventing cervical cancer in Korea.

METHODS

Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire for male high school and university students sampled from a city in Korea. Human papillomavirus vaccine-related knowledge, health beliefs, demographic, and sexual history information variables relating to intentions to vaccinate were assessed.

RESULTS

The human papillomavirus vaccination rate was very low and the levels of knowledge and health beliefs were low. The significant predictors that raised the intention of human papillomavirus vaccination were a university student, experience of sexual intercourse and perceiving the benefits of human papillomavirus vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

To promote human papillomavirus vaccination, educational programming targeting males should include health beliefs and knowledge, emphasising that vaccination is important to prevent uterine cervical cancer and to role as a preventative measure against common male diseases.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Male high school students should be included as a major target population for school human papillomavirus education programmes, as they are at the age of commencing sexual intercourse. In addition, public health policies including human papillomavirus vaccination in the national immunisation programme are warranted.

The effects of an HPV education program by gender among Korean university students

PURPOSE

This study compared the effects of an HPV education program by gender among Korean university students in terms of their knowledge of HPV, intention to prevent HPV, awareness of sexual rights, and perception of gender equality.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental pre-post design was employed. 31 male and 28 female university students participated in eight sessions of an HPV prevention program for four weeks and in a self-administrative survey.

RESULTS

At pre-test, the perception of gender equality and some of the intentions to prevent HPV, including the intention to make regular use of condoms, reduce the number of sexual partners, abstain from sex until marriage, and stop smoking or stay non-smoker, were lower among men than women. When these differences by gender at pre-test were taken into account using ANCOVA, education outcome measures at post-test did not differ by gender. After completing the HPV prevention program, both male and female students presented a significant increase in terms of HPV knowledge, awareness of sexual rights, and perception of gender equality. Among the intentions to prevent HPV, only male intention to recommend the Pap test to their partner and female intention to regularly seek the Pap test and pelvic examinations were significantly increased after the program.

CONCLUSION

The HPV program was effective for both genders eliminating gender differences in attitudes and prevention intentions of HPV. However, the intentions to prevent HPV did not increase significantly, and future research is warranted to better understand students' perceived obstacles for practicing HPV prevention methods.