Family physicians' practices and attitudes towards HPV vaccination since extension of HPV vaccination to males.

OBJECTIVES

To describe family physicians' (FP) practices and attitudes towards HPV vaccination guidelines since its extension to males in 2021, and to identify levers to promote HPV vaccination in all adolescents.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study among FPs established in France in 2021. We collected sociodemographic data, practices, opinions, and attitudes towards vaccination, and FPs' demands regarding training and information about HPV. We used logistic regression models to identify the variables associated with HPV vaccination proposal.

RESULTS

Of 530 FPs included, 469 (88.5%) reported that they systematically proposed HPV vaccines to girls vs 335 (63.2%) to boys. A total of 366 (69.0%) FPs reported an increase in HPV vaccines proposal to all adolescents since the extension of HPV vaccination to males recommended by French guidelines. However, factors associated with HPV vaccination proposal differed by target females and target males. Setting and mode of practice, opinion about the number of recommended vaccines and HPV vaccines, and demands of training on HPV vaccines were associated with HPV vaccination proposal to target females. Whereas academic status, opinion about HPV vaccination guidelines extension to males, using continuing medical education as the main source of information on HPV vaccines, and demands for training on HPV vaccines were associated with HPV vaccination proposal to target males.

CONCLUSIONS

Extension of HPV vaccination to males in French guidelines might have had a favorable impact on HPV vaccination proposal by FPs to adolescents. However, levers to promote HPV vaccination might differ according to the target population sex.