Recorded presentation

Crystal M. Freeman, PhD, MPH¹, Danuta Kasprzyk, PhD², Daniel E. Montaño, PhD², Tara S. McPartland, MSW, MPH³, Bethany A. Weaver, DO, MPH³, Laura A. Koutsky, PhD⁴, and Rheta Barnes, MSN, MPH⁵. (1) Battelle, Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, 4500 Sand Point Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105-3949, 206-528-3401, freemanc@battelle.org, (2) Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, Battelle Memorial Institute, 4500 Sand Point Way NE, P.O Box 5395, Seattle, WA 98105-0395, (3) Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 9th Ave., Box 359931, Seattle, WA 98104, (4) HPV Research Group, University of Washington, Box 359933 Lake Union Place, Suite 300, 1914 N 34th Street, Seattle, WA 98103, (5) Division of STD Prevention, BIRB, MS-E44, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Purpose: To understand the similarities and differences between patients and clinicians regarding patients’ awareness of HPV, their information needs, and sources for gathering HPV information.

Methods: Patient data was collected from 35 HR HPV (+) and (-) women using focus groups. Participants were recruited from a sentinel surveillance study of HR HPV in the greater Seattle, WA area. Clinician data was obtained from 56 physician and midlevel clinicians from across the United States using focus groups and telephone interviews. Patients’ awareness of HPV was assessed by their self-reported knowledge of HPV, HPV’s link to cervical cancer, methods of prevention and clinicians’ self-reported perceived level of patient awareness.

Results: Both patients and clinicians reported low-levels of HPV awareness. However, most patients who were aware of HPV also had some awareness regarding transmission, clinical manifestations (e.g., genital warts) and the longevity of the virus. Patients desire more information regarding ‘high’ and ‘low-risk’ HPV compared to clinicians who believe this type of information is too technical or confusing for patients to understand. Finally, patients and clinicians reported the Internet and the CDC as sources for gathering information related to HPV.

Conclusions: Although most patients and clinicians reported low levels of patient awareness regarding HPV, patients were aware of HPV and its link to cervical cancer. However, patients expressed a desire for more complex information than clinicians usually provide. These findings suggest that better communication between patients and clinicians is needed in order to improve patient knowledge and awareness of HPV

Learning Objectives: