Predicting human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in men who have sex with men the influence of vaccine price and receiving an HPV diagnosis.

Background: To understand how human papillomavirus (HPV) screening results, HPV-related knowledge and attitudes are related to vaccination intention in three cost ranges and the actual vaccination behavior in a community sample of men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: MSM aged 20 years of age or older were recruited between October 2015 and May 2016 from community health centers that provide HIV testing and consultation services in Southern Taiwan and on social media. MSM were seen at baseline and again at 6 months after baseline in a cohort study. The baseline study included 253 individuals; 182 of them returned for the 6th-month follow-up. At each visit, MSM were asked to receive HPV screening and filled out a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether attitudinal factors and HPV screening results from the baseline affect their self-reported actual vaccine uptake at the in 6-month follow-up.

Results: Our research included 171 participants from the cohort because they had full information of the study variables (mean ± SD age = 29.21 ± 6.18). Our model showed good model fit using indices such as the comparative fit index (value = 0.998) and root mean square error of approximation (value = 0.013). HPV knowledge can predict those who have intention to take up HPV vaccine no matter what the price (p = .02), and then predict vaccine uptake at the follow-up (p < .001). A positive HPV screening result can predict vaccine uptake at the follow-up (p = .004).

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the impact of vaccine price and HPV screening results on the intention and uptake of HPV vaccine. It is important to raise awareness of HPV in male populations. Clinicians and health educators should establish a safe and private environment for male patients for inquiring about HPV vaccine and HPV-related cancers.