Acceptability of HPV Vaccine Among a National Sample of Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

Objective

Due to higher rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and anal cancer among gay and bisexual men, we aimed to characterize their willingness to get HPV vaccine and identify correlates of vaccine acceptability.

Methods

We surveyed a national sample of men aged 18 to 59 who self-identified as either gay (n = 236) or bisexual (n = 70) during January 2009. We analyzed data using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Most men had heard of HPV vaccine (73%, 224/306) and were willing to get it (74%, 225/306). HPV vaccine acceptability was higher among men who believed their doctor would recommend getting the vaccine (OR = 12.87, 95% CI: 4.63–35.79) and those who were unsure (OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.47–6.76), as compared to men who believed their doctor would not recommend it. Acceptability was also higher among men who reported 5 or more lifetime sexual partners (OR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.34–8.55), perceived greater severity of HPV-related disease (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.18–3.14), perceived higher levels of HPV vaccine effectiveness (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.27–3.06), or reported higher levels of anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and later developed an HPV infection (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.57–3.61).

Conclusions

HPV vaccine acceptability was high among gay and bisexual men. These findings identify potentially important beliefs and attitudes for future communication efforts about HPV and HPV vaccine among gay and bisexual men.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widespread among males, with recent prevalence estimates ranging up to 73%.^1-4 HPV-infected men face potentially severe health consequences, although most infections resolve spontaneously. An estimated 63% of oropharyngeal cancers, 93% of anal cancers, and 36% of penile cancers in the United States (US) are attributable to infection with oncogenic HPV types (mainly types 16 and 18).⁵ Nononcogenic HPV types (types 6 and 11) cause anogenital warts.⁶

HPV-related disease is of particular concern for gay and bisexual men. The estimated prevalence of anal HPV infection among gay and bisexual men is about 60% among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative individuals and even higher among HIV-positive individuals, perhaps over 90%.^7-9 Men who have sex with men (MSM) are also at greater risk for anal cancer compared with the general population,^10-12 with incidence rates increasing over the last few decades.¹³

While a quadrivalent HPV vaccine is currently approved for use in females aged 9 to 26 years in the United States,¹⁴ studies have also shown the vaccine to be efficacious in males. Early results have shown reductions in persistent HPV infection and genital warts among vaccinated young men, including MSM.^15-17 Although some men may not derive full benefit due to previous exposure to HPV types in the vaccine, it may offer them important protection against HPV vaccine types they have not been exposed to. As with females, HPV vaccination likely offers the greatest benefit to males if administered before sexual debut.^18,19 Several countries have licensed HPV vaccine for use in males, though the United States is not currently one of them.²⁰ Austria is the only country to currently recommend HPV vaccination for young males.²⁰

In the event of approval of prophylactic HPV vaccine for use among males in the United States, it is important to examine vaccine acceptability and potential correlates such as knowledge and beliefs. Most studies that have addressed these topics in men have included no or very few gay and bisexual men.^21-26 The limited research conducted among gay and bisexual men (primarily using convenience samples recruited at community events or sexual health centers) found low levels of awareness and knowledge about HPV,^27,28 as well as moderate interest in receiving the vaccine.²⁹

In this report, we aimed to characterize correlates of acceptability among a national sample of gay and bisexual men. We examine modifiable beliefs as potential correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability among this high-risk population, focusing on constructs from health behavior theory and previous research on HPV vaccine among adult women, parents, and adolescent females.^30-32

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Design

We interviewed men aged 18 to 59 years who were members of an existing national panel of US households maintained by Knowledge Networks (Menlo Park, CA) in January 2009, oversampling men who self-identified as gay or bisexual for our study. Knowledge Networks identified prospective panel members using list-assisted, random-digit dialing. Households containing one or more panel members receive free internet access in exchange for panel members completing multiple internet-based surveys each month. Panel members in households with existing computer and internet access accumulate points as they complete surveys, which can then be redeemed for small cash payments at regular intervals. Of 874 men invited to participate, 609 (70%) completed our cross-sectional, online survey.³³ We report data collected from men who self-identified as either gay (n = 236) or bisexual (n = 70), excluding 12 men who indicated that they were not heterosexual but did not label their sexual orientation as either gay or bisexual. The Institutional Review Board at the University of North Carolina approved the study.

Measures

The University of North Carolina Men’s Health Survey is available online at http://www.unc.edu/~ntbrewer/hpv.htm. We developed survey items based on our previous HPV vaccine research involving females, parents, and healthcare providers.^31,32,34 We cognitively tested the survey with 28 gay and bisexual men and further refined it with 8 additional men (including 5 gay and bisexual men) before the study.

The survey measured HPV vaccine acceptability using 5 items assessing how willing a participant would be to get HPV vaccine if it were approved for use in males (α = 0.97). Response options were “definitely not willing,” “probably not willing,” “not sure,” “probably willing,” and “definitely willing.” We classified each participant as either “willing to get HPV vaccine” (responded probably or definitely willing to 3 or more items) or “not willing to get HPV vaccine.”

The survey measured HPV awareness by asking participants if they had ever heard of HPV before the survey. We calculated an HPV knowledge score by summing correct responses to 9 individual items (each correct answer was 1 point) asked only of men who had heard of HPV (Fig. 1). For analyses, we classified participants as “unaware of HPV” if they had never heard of HPV, aware of HPV with “low knowledge” if they had heard of HPV but answered 4 or less knowledge items correctly, or aware of HPV with “high knowledge” if they had heard of HPV and answered at least 5 knowledge items correctly.

Figure 1.

Responses to HPV knowledge items among gay and bisexual men who had heard of HPV before survey (n = 243). Correct answer is yes, except for items with superscript (*).

After providing informative statements about HPV and HPV vaccine, the survey assessed awareness of the vaccine by asking participants if they had ever heard of it before the survey. The statements informed participants that HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), about diseases associated with HPV, and that a vaccine exists to protect girls and young women against cervical disease. Participants indicated whether they had ever received any doses of HPV vaccine, attempted to get HPV vaccine but were unsuccessful, talked to a doctor about getting HPV vaccine for themselves, whether any family members or friends had received HPV vaccine, and where they would most likely go to get HPV vaccine (if it were approved for males). The survey also assessed whether participants thought their healthcare providers would recommend they get the vaccine if it were approved for males.

The survey used multi-item scales to measure perceived knowledge of HPV-related disease (3 items, possible range = 1–4, α = 0.74), level of concern about getting HPV-related disease (3 items, possible range = 1–4, α = 0.53), perceived severity of HPV-related disease (3 items, possible range = 1–4, α = 0.69), and anticipated regret of not getting HPV vaccine and later developing genital warts or an HPV infection that could lead to cancer (2 items, possible range = 1–4, α = 0.88). HPV-related diseases addressed in the perceived knowledge, concern, and perceived severity scales were genital warts, anal cancer, and oral cancer. Perceived knowledge response options ranged from “nothing at all” to “quite a lot,” while concern, perceived severity, and anticipated regret items had response options ranging from “not at all” to “quite a lot.”

The survey measured perceived potential barriers to obtaining HPV vaccine with a 4-item scale (possible range = 1–5, α = 0.65) that addressed adverse effects of HPV vaccination, cost of HPV vaccine, and difficulty in finding a health care provider with the vaccine available for males (if approved for use). For each perceived potential barrier, response options ranged from “not at all” to “extremely.” The survey also assessed perceived effectiveness of the vaccine against HPV-related disease (4 items, possible range = 1–5, α = 0.94) and perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease (4 items, possible range = 1–5, α = 0.85) using multi-item scales. HPV-related diseases addressed in these scales were genital warts, anal cancer, oral cancer, and penile cancer. Response options ranged from “no protection” to “complete protection” for effectiveness items and “no chance” to “certain I will get (HPV-related disease)” for likelihood items.

Participants provided information on demographic variables and health behaviors (Table 1). We defined “urban” as living in a metropolitan statistical area and “rural” as living outside of an metropolitan statistical area.³⁵ The survey also collected information on reported history of STIs and cancer (oral, anal, or penile) or lesions (anal or penile).

TABLE 1.

Categorical Correlates of HPV Vaccine Acceptability Among Gay and Bisexual Men (n = 306)

	No. Willing to Get HPV Vaccine/ Total No. in Category (n %)	Bivariate OR (95% CI)
Demographic characteristics
Sexual self-identity
Bisexual	48/70 (69)	ref.
Gay	177/236 (75)	1.38 (0.77-2.47)
Age (yr)
18-39	41/59 (69)	ref.
40-49	96/124 (77)	1.51 (0.75-3.02)
50-59	88/123 (71)	1.10(0.56-2.18)
Race/ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic	180/247 (73)	ref.
Other race/ethnicity	45/59 (76)	1.20 (0.62-2.32)
Marital status
Divorced, widowed, separated, never married	117/160 (73)	ref.
Living with partner or married	108/146 (74)	1.05 (0.63-1.74)
Education level
No college degree	94/136 (69)	ref.
College degree	131/170 (77)	1.50 (0.90-2.50)
Household income
<$60,000	87/122 (71)	ref.
ε$60,000	138/184 (75)	1.21 (0.72-2.02)
Employment status
Not currently employed	40/60 (67)	ref.
Currently employed	185/246 (75)	1.52 (0.82-2.79)
Health insurance status
No	30/44 (68)	ref.
Yes	195/262 (74)	1.36 (0.68-2.71)
Urbanicity
Rural	16/20 (80)	ref.
Urban	209/286 (73)	0.68 (0.22-2.09)
HPV and HPV vaccine
Awareness/knowledge about HPV
Never heard of HPV before survey	43/63 (68)	0.70 (0.36-1.38)
Heard of HPV, at or below median knowledge score	93/125 (74)	0.95(0.53-1.69)
Heard of HPV, above median knowledge score	89/118 (75)	ref.
Heard of HPV vaccine before survey
No	60/82 (73)	ref.
Yes	165/224 (74)	1.03 (0.58-1.82)
Family member or friend has gotten HPV vaccine
No	208/283 (73)	ref.
Yes	17/23 (74)	1.02 (0.39-2.69)
Think doctor would recommend HPV vaccine
No	25/56 (45)	ref.
Do not know	105/147 (71)	3.10 (1.64-5.86)*
Yes	95/103 (92)	14.73 (6.03-35.98)*
Health and health behaviors
Smoking status
Nonsmoker	157/219 (72)	ref.
Smoker	68/87 (78)	1.41 (0.79-2.54)
Hepatitis B vaccination history
No doses received/do not know	118/171 (69)	ref.
At least one dose received	107/135 (79)	1.72 (1.01-2.91)†
Age at first sexual intercourse (yr)
<16	83/108 (77)	1.31 (0.76-2.26)
≥16	142/198 (72)	ref.
No. lifetime sexual partners
<5	18/35 (51)	ref.
≥5	207/271 (76)	3.06 (1.49-6.27)*
HIV status
Negative	185/255 (73)	ref.
Positive	40/51 (78)	1.38 (0.67-2.83)
Other prior STI diagnosis
No	152/209 (73)	ref.
Yes	73/97 (75)	1.14 (0.66-1.98)
Prior diagnosis of cancer (oral, anal, penile) or lesions (anal, penile)
No	222/301 (74)	ref.
Yes	3/5 (60)	0.53 (0.09-3.25)

^*P < 0.01.

^†P < 0.05.

HPV indicates human papillomavirus; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ref., referent group; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; STI, sexually transmitted infection.

Data Analysis

We used logistic regression models to examine bivariate correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability. Statistically significant bivariate predictors (P < 0.05) were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model. We analyzed unweighted data using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). All statistical tests were 2-tailed, using a critical α of 0.05.

RESULTS

Participant Characteristics

Most participants were non-Hispanic white (81%), less than 50 years old (60%), reported an income of at least $60,000 (60%), employed (80%), had health insurance (86%), and lived in an urban area (93%) (Table 1). A majority of participants were nonsmokers (72%) and had either not received or were unsure if they had received one or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine (56%). Most men reported that they had not initiated sex before age 16 (65%) and a history of 5 or more sexual partners during their lifetime (89%) (median number of reported lifetime sexual partners = 25). Seventeen percent of men reported a history of HIV infection, 32% reported a history of other STIs, and 2% indicated a history of cancer (oral, anal, or penile) or lesions (anal or penile).

HPV and HPV Vaccine Awareness and Knowledge

Most men (79%) reported hearing of HPV before the survey, but knowledge levels about HPV tended to be low among those who had. Men, on average, answered 49% of the 9 knowledge questions correctly (mean = 4.39, median = 4 of 9 items correct). Most participants knew that HPV is an STI (74%) and that it is a common infection (74%) (Fig. 1). Only 58% thought HPV causes health problems for males, with even fewer knowing HPV can cause genital warts (46%) and cancer (anal cancer = 32%, penile cancer = 28%, oral cancer = 25%). Knowledge items with the highest percentage of incorrect responses concerned whether HPV causes genital herpes (33%), oral cancer (25%), or penile cancer (24%). In terms of HPV vaccine, most men (73%) reported hearing of it before the survey.

Beliefs About HPV and HPV Vaccine

Men expressed relatively low levels of perceived knowledge about HPV-related disease (mean = 1.80, SD = 0.63) and concern about getting HPV-related disease (mean = 1.55, SD = 0.54), as well as moderate levels of perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease (mean = 2.19, SD = 0.55). Participants generally perceived HPV-related disease to be severe (mean = 3.32, SD = 0.66). Participants also perceived HPV vaccine to be moderately effective in protecting against HPV-related disease (mean = 3.03, SD = 0.82), some barriers to getting HPV vaccine if it were available for males (mean = 2.67, SD = 0.85), and high levels of anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and later got an HPV infection (mean = 3.39, SD = 0.84). While about one-third of men (34%) thought their doctor would recommend they get HPV vaccine if it were approved for males, almost half were unsure (48%).

HPV Vaccine Uptake and Acceptability

No men had received HPV vaccine, 3% reported talking to a doctor previously about getting the vaccine for themselves, and 8% reported a family member or friend had been vaccinated. Three men reported trying to get HPV vaccine but were unsuccessful in doing so, indicating that affordability of the vaccine (n = 2) and the doctor not giving HPV vaccine to males (n = 1) prevented them from getting it. If approved for males, men indicated they would most likely go to a primary healthcare provider’s office (78%) or gay health center (8%) to get HPV vaccine.

Approximately 74% (225/306) of men were willing to receive HPV vaccine. Multiple variables were associated with acceptability of HPV vaccine in bivariate analyses (Tables 1 and 2). Men who either thought or were unsure if their doctor would recommend HPV vaccine, had received one or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine, or reported 5 or more lifetime sexual partners were more willing to get HPV vaccine (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, men willing to get vaccinated reported higher levels of concern about getting HPV-related disease, perceived severity of HPV-related disease, perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease, perceived effectiveness of HPV vaccine, and anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and later became infected with HPV (all P < 0.05).

TABLE 2.

Continuous Correlates of HPV Vaccine Acceptability Among Gay And Bisexual Men (n = 306)

	Mean (SD)		Bivariate OR (95% CI)
	Not Willing (n = 81)	Willing (n = 225)
Perceived knowledge of HPV-related disease	1.72 (0.63)	1.83 (0.62)	1.37 (0.89-2.10)
Concern about getting HPV-related disease	1.40 (0.51)	1.60 (0.54)	2.21 (1.25-3.91)*
Perceived severity of HPV-related disease	3.09 (0.76)	3.41 (0.60)	1.98 (1.36-2.88)*
Perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease	2.03 (0.63)	2.25 (0.51)	2.22 (1.32-3.72)*
Perceived barriers to getting HPV vaccine	2.73 (0.88)	2.64 (0.83)	0.88 (0.65-1.19)
Perceived effectiveness of HPV vaccine	2.58 (0.87)	3.19(0.74)	2.76 (1.91-3.97)*
Anticipated regret if chose not to get vaccinated and later developed HPV infection	2.81 (1.05)	3.60 (0.62)	3.02(2.17-4.20)*

^*P < 0.01.

HPV indicates human papillomavirus; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

In multivariate analysis (Table 3), acceptability was higher among men if they either thought (OR = 12.87, 95% CI: 4.63–35.79) or were unsure (OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.47–6.76) if their doctor would recommend they get HPV vaccine compared with those who thought their doctor would not recommend the vaccine, if made available for males. Acceptability was also higher among those who had 5 or more lifetime sexual partners (OR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.34–8.55), perceived HPV-related disease to be more severe (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.18–3.14), perceived HPV vaccine to be more effective (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.27–3.06), or reported greater anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and an HPV infection later developed (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.57–3.61).

TABLE 3.

Multivariate Correlates of HPV Vaccine Acceptability Among Gay and Bisexual Men (n = 306)

	Adjusted OR (95% CI)
Think doctor would recommend HPV vaccine
No	ref.
Do not know	3.15(1.47-6.76)*
Yes	12.87 (4.63-35.79)*
Hepatitis B vaccination history
No doses received/do not know	ref.
At least 1 dose received	1.37 (0.70-2.69)
No. Lifetime sexual partners
<5	ref.
≥5	3.39 (1.34-8.55)*
Concern about getting HPV-related disease	0.96 (0.48-1.90)
Perceived severity of HPV-related disease	1.92(1.18-3.14)*
Perceived likelihood of getting HPV-related disease	1.84 (0.92-3.70)
Perceived effectiveness of HPV vaccine	1.97 (1.27-3.06)*
Anticipated regret if chose not to get vaccinated and later developed HPV infection	2.39 (1.57-3.61)*

Multivariate model consisted of all variables included in table.

^*P < 0.01.

HPV indicates human papillomavirus; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ref., referent group.

DISCUSSION

If approved for use in males, HPV vaccine may offer great benefits to gay and bisexual men due to their high rates of HPV infection^7-9 and HPV-associated anal cancer.¹² We currently know little about the acceptability of the vaccine among gay and bisexual men. In this national sample of gay and bisexual men, most were willing to get HPV vaccine. Furthermore, many of the identified correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability are modifiable and offer potential targets for future research addressing HPV and HPV vaccine in gay and bisexual males.

About three-fourth of participants were willing to get vaccinated against HPV. This level of HPV vaccine acceptability is higher than a past study conducted among MSM.²⁹ Acceptability of HPV vaccine was higher among men who perceived HPV-related disease to be more severe, perceived HPV vaccine to be more effective, or thought or were unsure if their doctor would recommend they get HPV vaccine (although effect estimates for doctor’s recommendation were imprecise due to small cell counts and should be interpreted accordingly). These findings are similar to those of HPV vaccine acceptability research conducted among females and parents of adolescent girls (before federal approval of the vaccine for females).³⁰ While males have also reported increased willingness to get HPV vaccine if their doctor recommended it,²² neither perceived severity of HPV-related disease nor perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness were multivariate correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability in a previous study among heterosexual males.²³ Acceptability was also higher among men in our study who reported greater anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and an HPV infection later developed. While we identified anticipated regret as a key predictor of HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent females,³⁶ it has not been previously examined as a correlate of HPV vaccine acceptability among males, to our knowledge. These findings identify potentially important beliefs and attitudes for future communication efforts about HPV and HPV vaccine among gay and bisexual men.

Although most participants were willing to get vaccinated, knowledge of potential health consequences of HPV infection was low. Furthermore, over 20% of men had not even heard of HPV before the survey. These findings are in line with previous reports of low HPV knowledge among gay and bisexual men.^27,28 Given the high levels of anal HPV infection among gay and bisexual men,^7-9 these results are especially concerning. Future efforts need to ensure that gay and bisexual men are aware of not only HPV and how it is transmitted, but also diseases associated with HPV infection and how infected men can reduce their risk of developing HPV-related cancers. Such efforts may increase informed decision-making about HPV vaccine (and potentially vaccine acceptability) among this high-risk population.

A few important issues will need to be considered before targeting gay and bisexual men for vaccination should the vaccine become available for males. HPV vaccination likely offers the greatest benefit if administered before sexual debut.^18,19 However, most MSM report engaging in their first same-sex experience before disclosing their sexual orientation to others.³⁷ Consequently, men identifying as gay and bisexual who have not yet had sexual intercourse (the ideal target population) may be a difficult population to identify. One alternative public health strategy may be to target all males at an early age before sexual intercourse, similar to the current strategy for vaccinating females.

Many sexually active gay and bisexual men will likely seek HPV vaccine if it becomes available for males, including those with previous HPV infections. In our study, as well as others among primarily heterosexual men,^22,25 acceptability of HPV vaccine was higher among men with more lifetime sexual partners, a marker of risk for HPV infection. Nonetheless, most MSM are not currently infected in the anal canal with either HPV 16 or 18 and are unlikely to be infected with all 4 HPV types the quadrivalent vaccine protects against.^8,9 If additional research determines that vaccinating sexually active men offers health benefits, these gay and bisexual men with previous sexual activity may become an important population for ensuring HPV vaccination.

The strengths of our study include the use of a national sample, a high participation rate, and examining a wide range of possible correlates of willingness to get HPV vaccine. We also focused on gay and bisexual men, who are at high risk for HPV-related disease. Limitations include the study occurring before HPV vaccine licensure for males in the United States and the inclusion of men outside the age range of those in clinical trials involving HPV vaccine safety and efficacy in males.^15-17 Age, however, was not associated with vaccine acceptability. While we used members of an online survey panel, the panel has been shown to closely match the US population on many demographic features.^38,39 The main outcome, willingness to get HPV vaccine, may overstate behavior that we would observe if HPV vaccine is approved for use in males since intent does not always translate into health behavior.^40,41 This issue may be especially relevant in the case of HPV vaccination in the United States since the vaccine is not currently provided free of charge within schools, as in other countries.⁴²

The findings of the current study suggest that a substantial proportion of gay and bisexual men are willing to get HPV vaccine. Modifiable beliefs, including perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness and anticipated regret, may be important to future communication efforts about HPV and HPV vaccine among gay and bisexual men. While future research involving males in the likely targeted age range for HPV vaccine is warranted, our results offer early insight into both HPV vaccine acceptability among gay and bisexual men and correlates of this acceptability.