Effects of a web-based HPV vaccination intervention on cognitive outcomes among young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant characteristics by study group (n = 1,227).

	Intervention	Control
	(n = 815)	(n = 412)
	n(%)	n(%)
Demographic Characteristics
Age (years)
18–21	295 (36.2)	142 (34.5)
22–25	520 (63.8)	270 (65.5)
Race / ethnicity
Non-Hispanic white	391 (48.0)	188 (45.6)
Non-Hispanic black	92 (11.3)	37 (9.0)
Hispanic	222 (27.2)	130 (31.6)
Non-Hispanic other	110 (13.5)	57 (13.8)
Relationship status
Single and not having sex	105 (12.9)	65 (15.8)
Single and having sexor casually dating	523 (64.2)	270 (65.5)
In a relationship	187 (22.9)	77 (18.7)
Education level
High school or less	259 (31.8)	121 (29.4)
Some college or more	556 (68.2)	291 (70.6)
Employment status
Employed full time or part time	228 (28.0)	121 (29.4)
Other	587 (72.0)	291 (70.6)
Sexual identity
Gay	540 (66.3)	275 (66.8)
Bisexual	212 (26.0)	105 (25.5)
Something else	63 (7.7)	32 (7.8)
Ever had sex with a man
No	48 (5.9)	37 (9.0)
Yes	767 (94.1)	375 (91.0)
Sexually attracted to males
No	27 (3.3)	11 (2.7)
Yes	788 (96.7)	401 (97.3)
Region of residence
Northeast	151 (18.5)	77 (18.7)
Midwest	153 (18.8)	71 (17.2)
South	283 (34.7)	146 (35.4)
West	228 (28.0)	118 (28.6)
Health-Related Characteristics
Health insurance
Private insurance	509 (62.5)	259 (62.9)
Public insurance	135 (16.6)	71 (17.2)
None/don’tknow	171 (21.0)	82 (19.9)
Last preventive healthcare visit
Within last year	366 (44.9)	195 (47.3)
More than a year ago	449 (55.1)	217 (52.7)
Ever talked with a healthcare provider about HPV vaccine
No	698 (85.6)	351 (85.2)
Yes	117 (14.4)	61 (14.8)
Disclosure of sexual orientation to healthcare provider
Provider definitely knows	276 (33.9)	135 (32.8)
Provider probably knows, might know, or definitely does not know	539 (66.1)	277 (67.2)
Concealment of sexualorientation, mean (SD)^a	2.63 (1.21)	2.67 (1.20)
Perceived discriminationin healthcare, mean (SD)^b	2.38 (1.16)	2.39 (1.21)
HIV status
Negative	772 (94.7)	391 (94.9)
Positive	43 (5.3)	21 (5.1)
Ever had genital warts
No	786 (96.4)	398 (96.6)
Yes	29 (3.6)	14 (3.4)
Electronic health literacy,mean (SD)^c	3.95 (0.78)	3.90 (0.75)

Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. HPV=human papillomavirus; SD=standard deviation; HIV=human immunodeficiency virus.

^a3-item scale; items had a 5-point response scale ranging from “never” to “always” (coded 1–5)

^b1 item with a 5-point response scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (coded 1–5)

^c4-item scale; items had a 5-point response scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (coded 1–5)

Table 2. Knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine by study group (n = 1,227).

	Intervention		Control
	Pre-test (n=815)	Post-test (n=722)	Pre-test (n=412)	Post-test (n=379)
	n correct (%)	n correct (%)	n correct (%)	n correct (%)	p
HPV causes health problems for males	501 (61.5)	588 (81.4)	274 (66.5)	285 (75.2)	.002*
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States	295 (36.2)	554 (76.7)	154 (37.4)	198 (52.2)	<.001*
HPV is the main cause of genital warts and anal cancer	299 (36.7)	565 (78.3)	173 (42.0)	232 (61.2)	<.001*
You can always tell if someone has HPV^a	633 (77.7)	620 (85.9)	334 (81.1)	334 (88.1)	.978
HPV vaccine can protect you from other sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV^a	487 (59.8)	432 (59.8)	238 (57.8)	218 (57.5)	.989
HPV vaccine is recommended for all people who are ages 18-26	542 (66.5)	640 (88.6)	270 (65.5)	294 (77.6)	<.001*
HPV vaccine is recommended for all gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men who are ages 18-26	567 (69.6)	668 (92.5)	295 (71.6)	309 (81.5)	<.001*

Table reports the frequency and percentage of correct responses for each knowledge item. Reported p-values are for an interaction term between study group and survey timepoint in a mixed effects model applied to all-available data. HPV= human papillomavirus; HIV=human immunodeficiency virus.

^aCorrect response was “no” for this item.

*Statistically significant at p = .05 after Holm’s correction for multiple comparisons.

Table 3. Attitudes and beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccine by study group (n = 1,227).

	Intervention		Control
	Pre-test (n=815)	Post-test (n=722)	Pre-test (n=412)	Post-test (n=379)
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	p
Perceived vulnerability to HPV-related disease^a	2.37 (0.70)	2.56 (0.78)	2.41 (0.69)	2.47 (0.74)	0.003*
Perceived severity of HPV-related disease^b	3.51 (0.68)	3.51 (0.67)	3.47 (0.71)	3.51 (0.65)	0.660
Worry about getting HPV-related disease^c	1.90 (0.85)	2.63 (0.93)	1.97 (0.86)	2.48 (0.92)	<0.001*
Perceived relative risk of anal cancer among men who have sex with men relative to other men^d	3.71 (0.96)	4.23 (0.84)	3.78 (0.90)	3.98 (0.90)	<0.001*
Stigma associated with HPV infection^e	3.87 (0.90)	3.81 (1.02)	3.81 (0.91)	3.85 (0.99)	0.047
Response efficacy of HPV vaccine^f	3.51 (0.71)	4.08 (0.72)	3.55 (0.69)	3.93 (0.76)	<0.001*
Self-efficacy for the HPV vaccination process^f	3.97 (0.77)	4.20 (0.72)	3.97 (0.75)	4.07 (0.79)	0.004*
Intention to get HPV vaccine^d	3.32 (0.94)	4.02 (0.87)	3.36 (0.93)	3.64 (0.94)	<0.001*
Vaccine might cause lasting health problems (response cost)^d	2.78 (0.95)	2.64 (1.20)	2.75 (0.86)	2.60 (1.07)	0.680
Do not have enough information to decide whether to get vaccinated (response cost)^d	3.40 (1.20)	2.47 (1.20)	3.34 (1.17)	2.68 (1.20)	0.003*
It would be difficult to find a healthcare provider where HPV vaccine is affordable (response cost)^d	2.95 (1.12)	2.66 (1.24)	3.02 (1.08)	2.75 (1.19)	0.950
People who are important to participants would support them getting HPV vaccine (social norm)^d	3.89 (0.94)	4.08 (0.91)	3.93 (0.91)	3.98 (0.93)	0.015
Many young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are getting HPV vaccine (social norm)^d	3.15 (0.82)	3.68 (0.93)	3.15 (0.84)	3.45 (0.91)	<0.001*

Table reports the mean and standard deviation for each attitude and belief. Reported p-values are for an interaction term between study group and survey timepoint in a mixed effects model applied to all-available data. SD=standard deviation; HPV= human papillomavirus.

^a3-item scale; items had a 4-point response scale ranging from “no chance” to “high chance” (coded 1–4)

^b3-item scale; items had a 4-point response scale ranging from “not at all” to “very” (coded 1–4)

^c3-item scale; items had a 4-point response scale ranging from “not at all” to “a lot” (coded 1–4)

^d1 item with a 5-point response scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (coded 1–5)

^e3-item scale; items had a 5-point response scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (coded 1–5)

^f2-item scale; items had a 5-point response scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” (coded 1–5)

*Statistically significant at p = .05 after Holm’s correction for multiple comparisons.