The content and context of physicians' communication with males about human papillomavirus vaccination

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic and practice characteristics of physicians who participated in the survey (N = 355).

Physician characteristics	n (%)
Gender
Female	178 (50.1)
Male	171 (48.2)
Missing	6 (1.7)
Age
30-39	64 (18.0)
40-49	124 (34.9)
≥50	161 (45.4)
Missing	6 (1.7)
Race
White/Caucasian	233 (65.6)
Black/African-American	22 (6.2)
Asian	38 (10.7)
Other	51 (14.4)
Missing	11 (3.1)
Ethnicity
Hispanic	86 (24.2)
Non-Hispanic	259 (73.0)
Missing	10 (2.8)
Years practicing
≤10	100 (28.2)
11-15	64 (18.0)
≥16	177 (49.9)
Missing	14 (3.9)
Clinical specialty
Pediatrics	155 (43.7)
Family Medicine	174 (49.0)
Other^a	20 (5.6)
Missing	6 (1.7)
Practice characteristics
Number of physicians
1	100 (28.2)
2	174 (49.0)
6-15	46 (13.0)
≥16	29 (8.2)
Missing	6 (1.7)
Practice situation
Single specialty	233 (65.6)
Multi-specialty	91 (25.6)
Other	25 (7.0)
Missing	6 (1.7)
Practice type
Private practice office	229 (64.5)
Other	112 (31.5)
Missing	14 (3.9)
Practice location
Urban	129 (36.3)
Suburban	180 (50.7)
Rural/Other	33 (9.3)
Missing	13 (3.7)
Race of patients
White, non-Hispanic	143 (40.3)
Minority group(s)	121 (34.1)
No definable majority	67 (18.9)
Missing	24 (6.8)
Medicaid patients
Medicaid only	6 (1.7)
Medicaid and others	215 (60.6)
No Medicaid	97 (27.3)
Missing	37 (10.4)
Typical daily patient volume
<15	41 (11.5)
15-19	96 (27.0)
20-29	155 (43.7)
≥30	56 (15.8)
Missing	7 (2.0)
VFC provider
Yes	162 (45.6)
No	156 (43.9)
Do not know	35 (9.9)
Missing	2 (0.6)

Notes. Abbreviation: VFC, Vaccines for Children program

^a Other clinical specialty includes Urgent Care, Acute Care, Internal Medicine, Hospice, Geriatrics, General Physician, Primary Care, Emergency Room.

Figure 1. Physicians' presentation of HPV vaccine as optional or routine for males, by patient age group. Note. The number of patients seen differs by patient age group: 9–10 years, n = 264; 11–12 years, n = 278; 13–17 years, n = 292; 18–21 years, n = 301; 22–26 years, n = 206.

Table 2. Content of physicians' discussion about HPV vaccine with male patients and their parents.

	Strongly emphasize	Somewhat emphasize	Discuss only if questioned	Do not discuss	Don't know/not sure
Content area	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)
Sexually transmitted infection prevention
Prevention of genital warts in the patient himself	194 (54.6)	76 (21.4)	40 (11.3)	31 (8.7)	4 (1.1)
Prevention of genital warts in sexual partners	146 (41.1)	95 (26.8)	64 (18.0)	37 (10.4)	2 (0.6)
Cancer prevention
Prevention of cervical cancer in female sexual partners	201 (56.6)	72 (20.3)	37 (10.4)	32 (9.0)	2 (0.6)
Prevention of anal cancer in the patient himself	114 (32.1)	63 (17.7)	80 (22.5)	85 (23.9)	4 (1.1)
Possible prevention of penile cancer	113 (31.8)	86 (24.2)	56 (15.8)	85 (23.9)	3 (0.8)
Safety of the vaccine in males	158 (44.5)	85 (23.9)	66 (18.6)	31 (8.7)	5 (1.4)
Efficacy of the vaccine in males	141 (39.7)	88 (24.8)	73 (20.6)	31 (8.7)	9 (2.5)
Importance of vaccination prior to the onset of sexual activity (for patients who have not initiated sexual activity)	215 (60.6)	59 (16.6)	35 (9.9)	33 (9.3)	4 (1.1)

Note. Percentages account for missing data. Missing data for each item ranged from 9 to 13 participants.

Figure 2. Types of visits at which physicians see male patients and discuss HPV vaccine. Note. 15 participants did not respond to the question regarding the type of visit where adolescent males are seen. Percentages account for these missing data.