PREVENTION OF HPV-RELATED ORAL CANCER: A REVIEW OF DENTAL SCHOOL CURRICULA

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. By 2020, Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC) will become the new face of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, expected to reach epidemic proportions in the US. In fact, the number of HPV-related OPCs is expected to surpass that of HPV-related cervical cancers. Among all US states, North Carolina (NC) has the third highest HPV-associated OPC rate among men (9.25 per 100,000), just behind Kentucky and Florida. NC also ranks 8th highest for persons with HPV-associated OPC among women in the US (2.01 per 100,000). Therefore, it is especially important that dentists in NC have the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to engage in OPC prevention efforts with their patients, including HPV vaccine recommendation (and potential HPV vaccine provision in the near future). Dental students are a key audience for HPV-related communication and training because of their impending role as health care providers.

This study will review curricula used to teach about HPV and HPV prevention practices among all accredited Schools of Dental Medicine in the United States. Academic deans, dental 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. In addition, faculty that are identified as teaching HPV-related content will also be contacted for information on content and teaching approaches.

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 dental school curricula, and effectively train dental students on primary HPV-related prevention (i.e. education and recommendation). Thus, informing the larger grant in the development of an enhanced training curricula for dental students to increase HPV health literacy, self-efficacy, and intention to provide primary HPV prevention to patients.