Provider Communication Strategies to Promote HPV Vaccination in Adults 27–45 for Oropharyngeal Cancer Prevention: A Scoping Review

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection int he United States, affecting around 13 million people each year (CDC, 2024). Nearly every person is exposed to HPV at least once in their lifetime, with approximately 10% of men and 3.6% of women are currently infected with oral HPV (CDC 2024). While many HPV infections resolve without complications, persistent infection can cause serious health consequences, like anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Alarmingly, rates of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers have steadily increased over the past 40 years. The rise can be attributed limited opportunities for early detection and screening in the US. Vaccination is the most effective strategy for preventing HPV related cancers, with evidence proving that the HPV vaccine prevents more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV (Shapiro, 2022). However, even with this groundbreaking evidence for the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine against cancer, uptake among adults, particularly in marginalized populations, remains low. Currently, only about one in five adults, aged 27-45 have received the HPV vaccination. In response to the rising cases of HPV in the United States, in 2018 the FDA expanded the recommended vaccination age range to include adults up to 45 years old. However, prior studies indicate that racial and ethnic minorities are less aware and informed about HPV and its vaccine. These disparities can lead to higher rates of HPV associated cancers in minority populations. Understanding the factors that cause this inequality is essential to improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Currently, scientific literature concerning HPV vaccination uptake is focused on adolescents. Given the changes in HPV vaccination recommendations, Additionally, although the HPV vaccine can protect against many different kinds of cancer, most articles relating to HPV caused cancers focus solely on cervical cancers. This scoping review will map the existing literature on the effectiveness of healthcare provider communication strategies in promoting the HPV vaccination for those age d 27 – 45 , and how this results in head and neck cancer prevention. Shapiro G. K. (2022). HPV Vaccination: An Underused Strategy for the Prevention of Cancer. Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 29(5), 3780–3792. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29050303 Our objectives: What healthcare provider communication strategies effectively promote HPV vaccine uptake among adults aged 27–45 for head and neck cancer prevention, 2) and how do these strategies address disparities in HPV-related head and neck cancer across underrepresented racial and ethnic groups?