Discussing HPV with oropharyngeal cancer patients: A cross-sectional survey of attitudes in health professionals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now known to cause a significant proportion of head and neck cancers (HNC). Qualitative research has shown that some health professionals find it difficult to discuss HPV with patients due to its sexually transmitted nature, and have concerns about their own knowledge of the virus. We used a survey to quantify attitudes towards discussing HPV among HNC health professionals.

Methods

We carried out a cross-sectional survey of HNC health professionals (n=260) in the UK and Ireland, assessing participants' knowledge of HPV, their experiences of and attitudes towards discussing HPV with patients, and their willingness to discuss HPV with their patients in the future.

Results

Overall, health professionals had good knowledge of HPV (m

SUBMITTER: Dodd RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5414413 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature