PREVENTION OF HPV-RELATED CANCER: A REVIEW OF MEDICAL SCHOOL AND OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULA IN THE U.S.

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. There are currently three HPV vaccines licensed in the U.S., Gardasil, Cervarix and Gardasil9. These vaccinations have the potential to prevent approximately 90% of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers. Healthcare provider recommendation is the single best predictor of adolescent vaccination against HPV. Factors that may be associated with recommendation practices among providers is their HPV health literacy and their attitudes towards vaccination, as attitudes have been shown to predict recommendation behavior. Medical students are a key audience for HPV-related communication and training because of their impending role as health care providers.

The purpose of this research is to better understand what accredited schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine are teaching in terms of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and recommendation practices. This study will review curricula used to teach about HPV and HPV prevention practices among all accredited Schools of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine in the United States. Medical education chairs, or curriculum chairs will be contacted via email using the Dillman tailored design method which will include 3 contacts: a pre-notice email, an abbreviated informed consent form and survey email, and a thank you/reminder email. All participants will answer a 4 question survey about HPV-related content in their curricula. The surveys will be completed through a software program called Qualtrics. An information page will be provided at the beginning of the survey. No identifying information will be collected, and all data will be reported in aggregate form.

This research will inform current efforts of the scientific community to understand and reduce the rise of HPV-related cancers. It will also provide a timely opportunity to expand existing medical school curricula, and effectively train medical students on primary HPV-related prevention. Thus, informing the larger grant in the development of an enhanced training curricula for medical students to increase HPV health literacy, and provide primary HPV prevention to patients.