Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Despite approval of a vaccine found to be very effective in preventing human papillomavirus infection and related cancers, many young people have not yet been vaccinated. Because health behaviors tend to co-occur, the purpose of the current study was to examine relationships among human papillomavirus vaccine uptake and other health behaviors among adolescents. Methods: Fifty-nine high school students completed a paper-and-pencil pilot survey regarding human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge and attitudes as well as human papillomavirus vaccination and other health behaviors. Results: The authors found that human papillomavirus vaccination was significantly associated with health-promoting behaviors among girls (eg, not smoking, P = .02), whereas vaccination willingness was associated with health risk behaviors among boys (eg, higher sugar diet, P = .03). Conclusions: Effective interventions to promote human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescents may benefit from a simultaneous focus on multiple health behaviors and/or health in general. Interventions tailored by gender may also be beneficial.