Health Communication: HPV Resources

Background

On December 20, 2000, Congress passed Public Law 106-554, which includes provisions concerning HPV. This legislation requires, among other activities, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Conduct sentinel surveillance and special studies to determine the prevalence of HPV in the United States.
• Conduct behavioral and other research on the impact of HPV-related diagnosis on individuals; formative research to assist with the development of educational messages; surveys of physician and public knowledge, attitudes, and practices about genital HPV infection.
• Upon the completion of formative research, develop and disseminate educational materials for the public and healthcare providers regarding HPV and its impact and prevention.

Since the law’s enactment, the CDC has coordinated epidemiological, behavioral, and communication research activities to meet this mandate. To achieve the communication goals outlined by Congress, CDC implemented several formative research activities to assess the HPV-related knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of the general public and HPV-infected individuals, as well as their HPV-related information needs. CDC has also completed formative research assessing health care providers’knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HPV diagnosis, management, treatment, and communication.

Research

• STD-Prevention Counseling Practices and Human Papillomavirus Opinions Among Clinicians with Adolescent Patients --- United States, 2004 - MMWR October 20, 2006
• HPV Health Care Provider Materials Testing Report (June 30, 2005)
• HPV Creative Material Testing - Report on focus group testing of HPV messages for the general public. Includes downloadable brochure and poster (April 29, 2005)
• HPV Communication Outreach Health Care Providers - Qualitative research report: results from formative research with health care providers and HPV experts (March 2002). This report provides an analysis of findings from key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus groups with health care providers, HPV researchers, and other HPV experts. The research explored target audiences’ knowledge and attitudes about HPV and related medical technologies; perceived challenges to addressing HPV; and HPV-related management, treatment, and communication practices.108 pages/1 MB
• STD Communications Database General Public Focus Group Findings - Qualitative research report: results from formative research with members of the general public (February 2004). Focus groups explored the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of the general public regarding STDs, with a focus on HPV, and examined their communication ideas for promoting STD knowledge and prevention.