Factors associated with university students' intention to receive human papillomavirus vaccination in northern Taiwan: A heath belief model approach

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with university students' intention to receive human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV). Methods: Using the purposive sampling method, the present study queried 533 undergraduate students from three universities in northern Taiwan in 2015. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used. The effective response rate was 97%. Multivariate regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Overall, university students had average/high scores for their level of knowledge about HPV. HPV cues to action were mainly from schools, media and healthcare providers. HPV cues to action, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy were positively associated with intention for HPV vaccination, while perceived barriers was negatively associated with such intention. Generally speaking, HPV cues to action, perceived susceptibility to HPV, and self-efficacy could predict intention for HPV vaccination. By gender, the factors associated with male students' HPV intention included perceived susceptibility to HPV and self-efficacy; female students' factors included grade, cue to action and self-efficacy. Conclusions: We suggest that health sectors should increase exposure to messages about the HPV vaccine in order to increase cues to action, and conduct HPV educational activities to improve students' perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy with regard to HPV vaccination.