A Multi-state Evaluation of Oral Health Students' Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer and HPV Vaccination

Human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancers (HPV-OPCs) are on the rise, yet HPV knowledge among dental professionals remains low. The purpose of this multi-state study was to examine sociodemographic factors associated with final year dental hygiene (DH), third year dental (DS3), fourth year dental (DS4) students’ knowledge regarding HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination. Twenty dental programs in the United States were approached in the implementation phase to complete an online, 153-item, self-administered questionnaire that was developed and tested in a previous study. Descriptive statistics and chi square analyses were conducted in SAS version 9.4 to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables with HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination knowledge levels. This study included the participation of students from 15 dental programs (n=380) with an overall response rate of 28%. Although the results cannot be generalized to the entire population of dental students in the United States, most students had inadequate overall HPV knowledge (65%), HPV-OPC knowledge (80%), and HPV vaccination knowledge (55%). While all student groups displayed adequate general HPV knowledge levels (≥70% correct responses), gender, racial, religious, age, and regional differences were observed. Future dental professionals need to have adequate levels of HPV knowledge to aid in reducing the HPV-OPC burden. This study identified sociodemographic factors related to lower knowledge of HPV, HPV-OPC, and HPV vaccination, and highlights groups of students with greater needs for HPV education. This study provides a foundation for future research and interventions to be developed. Dental institutions can use findings to strengthen curricula development.