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Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing is an emerging cervical cancer screening strategy, yet few mail-based HPV self-testing programs have been implemented in the United States. We report the results of a pilot study of a mail-based program, the Health Outcomes through Motivation and Education Project.Methods: In 2015 to 2016, we recruited 103 women from Appalachian Ohio who were aged 30 to 65 years and had not received a Papanicolaou (Pap) test in at least 3 years. Women were mailed an HPV self-test and randomized to receive either (a) self-test instructions developed by the device manufacturer and a standard information brochure about cervical cancer (control group) or (b) self-test instructions developed by the Health Outcomes through Motivation and Education Project and a photo story information brochure about cervical cancer (intervention group). Logistic regression compared study arms on HPV self-test return and receipt of a Pap test.Results: Overall, 80 (78%) women returned their HPV self-test. Return was similar among the intervention and control groups (78% vs. 77%; odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-2.76). Among returners, 26% had an oncogenic HPV type detected in their sample. Women who returned their self-test reported high levels of satisfaction and positive experiences with the self-testing process. Few women overall received a Pap test (11%), and Pap testing was similar among the intervention and control groups (14% vs. 8%; odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-6.97).Conclusions: Mail-based HPV self-testing programs are a potentially promising strategy for reaching underscreened women in Appalachia. Efforts are needed to better understand how to optimize the success of such programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concern that adolescent girls who receive human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be more likely to have sex (ie, sexual disinhibition) has been commonplace in media coverage, but this belief is not held by many parents of adolescent girls. Because no studies have addressed this topic for adolescent boys, we examined parents' and their adolescent sons' beliefs in sexual disinhibition occurring after boys receive HPV vaccine. Methods: A national sample of parents of adolescent boys (n = 547) and their sons (aged 15-17 years; n = 176) completed online surveys in fall 2010. We used multi-item scales to measure parents' and sons' beliefs in sexual disinhibition after HPV vaccination. We used multivariate linear regression to identify correlates of beliefs in sexual disinhibition. Results: Less than a quarter of parents or sons agreed with statements suggesting that HPV vaccination leads to sexual disinhibition among adolescent boys (range, 20%-24%). Parents who had more liberal political affiliations (β = -0.11), had a daughter who had received HPV vaccine (β = -0.12), or had no daughter (β = -0.10) reported weaker beliefs in sexual disinhibition. Parents who reported higher anticipated regret if their sons got HPV vaccine and fainted (β = 0.18) indicated stronger beliefs in sexual disinhibition. Sons who perceived higher peer acceptance of HPV vaccination (β = 0.44) or were Hispanic (β = 0.21) had stronger beliefs in sexual disinhibition. Conclusions: Most parents and sons did not believe that HPV vaccination leads to sexual disinhibition among boys. Understanding the characteristics of parents and sons who hold these beliefs may help inform efforts to increase HPV vaccine uptake among boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which characterizes the vaccination rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from a national sample group of bisexual and gay men. The study enrolled a random sample of bisexual or gay men with reported histories of HIV, HBV, and sexually transmitted infections (STI). Results derived from multivariate analyses indicate a 46% confidence interval of men who had received HBV vaccine with higher vaccination rate in 18-29 age group compared to 50-59 years.

The article presents a study on the statewide vaccine initiation for human papillomavirus (HPV) to adolescent girls in North Carolina, in order to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Based on results, vaccine initiation was higher for 13-15 year old girls and parents of unvaccinated non-Hispanic white daughters have lesser intentions to be vaccinated in 2011. It concludes that HPV vaccination in North Carolina shows significant response compared to other U.S. areas.

The article presents a study to characterize the willingness of gays and bisexual men to get human papillomavirus (HPV) infection vaccine and identify correlates of vaccine acceptability. The study surveyed men aged 18 to 59 who self-identified as bisexual or gay. The results show that compared to men who believed their doctor would not recommend HPV vaccine, the vaccine acceptability was higher among men who believed their doctor would recommend getting the vaccine.