Exploring Factors Related to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention Among Nurses

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that can cause anogenital infection. Nonetheless, the novel Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine has been developed, in which nurses play an important role in the recommendations and prevention of this disease. Purpose: The study aimed to explore factors related to the HPV vaccination intention of nurses in central Taiwan. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study utilized the health belief model as a theoretical framework along with a self-administered online QR code questionnaire. We conducted random cluster sampling and recruited 701 in-service clinical nurses aged 20 years or above. Factors related to the HPV vaccination intention of the participants were examined using SPSS 22.0 statistical software, descriptive statistics, and binary logistic regression. Results: The nurses did not have sufficient knowledge of HPV. They had greater intention for free vaccination than self-financed vaccination of HPV. Age, employment in the general medicine service division, and health beliefs regarding prophylactic vaccination were the factors affecting self-financed HPV vaccination intention. The factors affecting free HPV vaccination intention were age, average monthly household income, lack of care experience in patients with cervical cancer, lack of friends or family members with HPV infection, knowledge of friends or family members with HPV infection, lack of friends or family members with cervical cancer, lack of HPV knowledge, knowledge of HPV vaccine, and health beliefs regarding prophylactic vaccination. Conclusion: Understanding the factors affecting HPV vaccination intention among nurses and providing HPV-related knowledge and information facilitate schools and medical staff-related units in increasing the rate of HPV vaccination.