A Survey of Pediatric Dentist and Resident HPV Anticipatory Guidance

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate pediatric dentists' and dental residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward human papillomavirus (HPV) education and vaccination anticipatory guidance.

Methods: The survey instrument was adapted from Patton et al. with permission from the American Dental Association (ADA) (copyright © 2020 ADA. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission) and emailed to practicing American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) member pediatric dentists and dental residents between February and March 2023. Descriptive data analyses were conducted to evaluate correlations between knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward HPV anticipatory guidance, including the impact of the politicization of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Results: Of 7,960 surveys sent, the total response rate was 7.7%. Only 6.3% of respondents regularly provide HPV vaccination anticipatory guidance, and 56.8% never discuss the HPV vaccine. Those who practice in an academic dental school setting were almost 4 times more likely and those who felt they had adequate training and knowledge or who have an electronic health record prompt for HPV vaccine status were 2 times more likely to provide regular HPV anticipatory guidance. Other correlates with increased regular provision of HPV anticipatory guidance were older age, greater knowledge, awareness of the age recommendations for HPV vaccination, familiarity with the ADA or AAPD policy statements, and greater comfort (indicated by a lower comfort score).

Conclusions: The survey results suggest pediatric dentists and pediatric dental residents rarely provide HPV anticipatory guidance, a missed public health opportunity for increasing vaccination rates and an opportunity for dental educators.Knowledge Transfer Statement:This article aims to inform dentists and dental educators about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine anticipatory guidance.

Keywords: attitudes; counseling; education; health knowledge; human papillomaviruses (HPV); papillomaviruses vaccines; pediatric dentistry; practice; public health.