American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO): Annual Meeting

WASHINGTON – Adolescent males are significantly less likely to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine than females, largely because of the lack of information about the vaccine provided to their parents, based on an analysis of data from a statewide survey.

Researchers found that only 14% of males had initiated HPV vaccination compared with 44% for females, based on answers of 751 parents of adolescents (aged 11-17 years) who completed the 2010 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) – a statewide telephone survey.

Photo courtesy: National Cancer Institute

In addition, HPV vaccine uptake in males was correlated with older age, minority race, a lower household income, and other vaccine use in the family. For females, HPV vaccine uptake was associated with older age and public school attendance.

The researchers also assessed parental reasons for not vaccinating their child against HPV. "We found that correlates and concerns related to HPV vaccine initiation varied for boys and girls," the researchers noted in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Preventive Oncology. Parents of boys most often cited not getting a recommendation from their health care provider or not knowing that the vaccine was available for boys. Parents of girls most often reported concerns about safety and side effects.

Almost half of parents (48%) reported on a male index child. The mean age of the adolescents was 14 years. Most parents reported on children who were non-Hispanic white (69%) or black (20%). Males and females did not differ in terms of 13 sample characteristics assessed.

"Our findings underscore the importance of health care provider recommendation of the HPV vaccine," wrote lead author Melissa B. Gilkey, Ph.D., and her coinvestigators. Dr. Gilkey is a researcher at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

"The difference in coverage between sons and daughters in our sample is not surprising, as our study was conducted soon after licensure for males," they reported.

It’s hoped that new guidelines on HPV vaccination from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely to increase boys’ access to the HPV vaccine, as private insurers typically cover the cost of vaccines that are recommended for routine use. "However, the experience with girls suggests that achieving widespread coverage among boys will require a concerted effort," the researchers pointed out. Recommending HPV vaccine alongside other adolescent vaccines is a strategy that may be particularly well suited for addressing the very low levels of uptake among boys."

The study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Cervarix vaccine against HPV types 16 and 18, the cancer control education program at UNC Lineberger, and a National Research Service Award in primary medical care. The investigators did not report whether they had any relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – Adolescent males are significantly less likely to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine than females, largely because of the lack of information about the vaccine provided to their parents, based on an analysis of data from a statewide survey.

Researchers found that only 14% of males had initiated HPV vaccination compared with 44% for females, based on answers of 751 parents of adolescents (aged 11-17 years) who completed the 2010 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) – a statewide telephone survey.

Photo courtesy: National Cancer Institute

In addition, HPV vaccine uptake in males was correlated with older age, minority race, a lower household income, and other vaccine use in the family. For females, HPV vaccine uptake was associated with older age and public school attendance.

The researchers also assessed parental reasons for not vaccinating their child against HPV. "We found that correlates and concerns related to HPV vaccine initiation varied for boys and girls," the researchers noted in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Preventive Oncology. Parents of boys most often cited not getting a recommendation from their health care provider or not knowing that the vaccine was available for boys. Parents of girls most often reported concerns about safety and side effects.

Almost half of parents (48%) reported on a male index child. The mean age of the adolescents was 14 years. Most parents reported on children who were non-Hispanic white (69%) or black (20%). Males and females did not differ in terms of 13 sample characteristics assessed.

"Our findings underscore the importance of health care provider recommendation of the HPV vaccine," wrote lead author Melissa B. Gilkey, Ph.D., and her coinvestigators. Dr. Gilkey is a researcher at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

"The difference in coverage between sons and daughters in our sample is not surprising, as our study was conducted soon after licensure for males," they reported.

It’s hoped that new guidelines on HPV vaccination from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely to increase boys’ access to the HPV vaccine, as private insurers typically cover the cost of vaccines that are recommended for routine use. "However, the experience with girls suggests that achieving widespread coverage among boys will require a concerted effort," the researchers pointed out. Recommending HPV vaccine alongside other adolescent vaccines is a strategy that may be particularly well suited for addressing the very low levels of uptake among boys."

The study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Cervarix vaccine against HPV types 16 and 18, the cancer control education program at UNC Lineberger, and a National Research Service Award in primary medical care. The investigators did not report whether they had any relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – Adolescent males are significantly less likely to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine than females, largely because of the lack of information about the vaccine provided to their parents, based on an analysis of data from a statewide survey.

Researchers found that only 14% of males had initiated HPV vaccination compared with 44% for females, based on answers of 751 parents of adolescents (aged 11-17 years) who completed the 2010 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) – a statewide telephone survey.

Photo courtesy: National Cancer Institute

In addition, HPV vaccine uptake in males was correlated with older age, minority race, a lower household income, and other vaccine use in the family. For females, HPV vaccine uptake was associated with older age and public school attendance.

The researchers also assessed parental reasons for not vaccinating their child against HPV. "We found that correlates and concerns related to HPV vaccine initiation varied for boys and girls," the researchers noted in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Preventive Oncology. Parents of boys most often cited not getting a recommendation from their health care provider or not knowing that the vaccine was available for boys. Parents of girls most often reported concerns about safety and side effects.

Almost half of parents (48%) reported on a male index child. The mean age of the adolescents was 14 years. Most parents reported on children who were non-Hispanic white (69%) or black (20%). Males and females did not differ in terms of 13 sample characteristics assessed.

"Our findings underscore the importance of health care provider recommendation of the HPV vaccine," wrote lead author Melissa B. Gilkey, Ph.D., and her coinvestigators. Dr. Gilkey is a researcher at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

"The difference in coverage between sons and daughters in our sample is not surprising, as our study was conducted soon after licensure for males," they reported.

It’s hoped that new guidelines on HPV vaccination from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely to increase boys’ access to the HPV vaccine, as private insurers typically cover the cost of vaccines that are recommended for routine use. "However, the experience with girls suggests that achieving widespread coverage among boys will require a concerted effort," the researchers pointed out. Recommending HPV vaccine alongside other adolescent vaccines is a strategy that may be particularly well suited for addressing the very low levels of uptake among boys."

The study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Cervarix vaccine against HPV types 16 and 18, the cancer control education program at UNC Lineberger, and a National Research Service Award in primary medical care. The investigators did not report whether they had any relevant financial disclosures.

WASHINGTON – While the use of sun protection measures became more common between 2000 and 2010, there was not a corresponding decrease in sunburns, according to an analysis of national data.

Overall among women, staying in the shade, using sunscreen, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased significantly over time by 5%, 6%, and 5%, respectively, between 2000 and 2010. Similarly, among men, staying in the shade, sunscreen use, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased by 7%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. However, the overall prevalence of sunburn did not change significantly over those years. In 2010, 51% of women and 49% of men reported having at least one sunburn in the past year. The results come from a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology.

Photo credit: © Spiritartist/iStockphoto

The rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have increased in recent years. Monitoring and reporting sun-protective behaviors and sunburns over time are important ways to measure the impact of skin cancer prevention activity and to track progress toward Healthy People 2020 objectives, noted lead author Dawn M. Holman and her coinvestigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To estimate how commonly people engage in these behaviors that protect against sun exposure, the researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey – Cancer Control Supplement, for years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010. The survey assessed the following behaviors as related to sun protection and sunburn: use of sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Respondents reported their use as being: always, most of the time, sometimes, rarely, or never for each item. Respondents were also asked about the number of sunburns they’ve had in the last year.

Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Analyses were limited to those aged 18-29 years – age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population. The researchers estimated the percentage who reported engaging in each behavior always or most of the time and the percentage reporting one or more sunburns in the past year overall, by gender and by race/ethnicity.

Among women, using sunscreen (37%) and staying in the shade (35%) were the most common reported protective behaviors in 2010. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt (5%) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (4%) were the least common. Black women were significantly less likely to report sunscreen use than were other racial/ethnic groups.

Among men, wearing long clothing to the ankles (33%) and staying in the shade (26%) were the most commonly reported behaviors in 2010. Fewer men reported using sunscreen (16%), wearing a long-sleeved shirt (8%), and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (7%). Of note, sunburn was significantly more common among non-Hispanic whites, compared with other racial/ethnic groups.

The results point to the "need for continued public health efforts to facilitate sun protection by: creating environments that support protective behaviors and by changing social norms regarding tanning and tanned skin. Facilitating sun protection may prevent sunburns and future increases in the burden of skin cancer," the researchers wrote.

The authors did not report whether they had any relevant financial interests.

WASHINGTON – While the use of sun protection measures became more common between 2000 and 2010, there was not a corresponding decrease in sunburns, according to an analysis of national data.

Overall among women, staying in the shade, using sunscreen, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased significantly over time by 5%, 6%, and 5%, respectively, between 2000 and 2010. Similarly, among men, staying in the shade, sunscreen use, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased by 7%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. However, the overall prevalence of sunburn did not change significantly over those years. In 2010, 51% of women and 49% of men reported having at least one sunburn in the past year. The results come from a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology.

Photo credit: © Spiritartist/iStockphoto

The rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have increased in recent years. Monitoring and reporting sun-protective behaviors and sunburns over time are important ways to measure the impact of skin cancer prevention activity and to track progress toward Healthy People 2020 objectives, noted lead author Dawn M. Holman and her coinvestigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To estimate how commonly people engage in these behaviors that protect against sun exposure, the researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey – Cancer Control Supplement, for years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010. The survey assessed the following behaviors as related to sun protection and sunburn: use of sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Respondents reported their use as being: always, most of the time, sometimes, rarely, or never for each item. Respondents were also asked about the number of sunburns they’ve had in the last year.

Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Analyses were limited to those aged 18-29 years – age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population. The researchers estimated the percentage who reported engaging in each behavior always or most of the time and the percentage reporting one or more sunburns in the past year overall, by gender and by race/ethnicity.

Among women, using sunscreen (37%) and staying in the shade (35%) were the most common reported protective behaviors in 2010. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt (5%) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (4%) were the least common. Black women were significantly less likely to report sunscreen use than were other racial/ethnic groups.

Among men, wearing long clothing to the ankles (33%) and staying in the shade (26%) were the most commonly reported behaviors in 2010. Fewer men reported using sunscreen (16%), wearing a long-sleeved shirt (8%), and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (7%). Of note, sunburn was significantly more common among non-Hispanic whites, compared with other racial/ethnic groups.

The results point to the "need for continued public health efforts to facilitate sun protection by: creating environments that support protective behaviors and by changing social norms regarding tanning and tanned skin. Facilitating sun protection may prevent sunburns and future increases in the burden of skin cancer," the researchers wrote.

The authors did not report whether they had any relevant financial interests.

WASHINGTON – While the use of sun protection measures became more common between 2000 and 2010, there was not a corresponding decrease in sunburns, according to an analysis of national data.

Overall among women, staying in the shade, using sunscreen, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased significantly over time by 5%, 6%, and 5%, respectively, between 2000 and 2010. Similarly, among men, staying in the shade, sunscreen use, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased by 7%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. However, the overall prevalence of sunburn did not change significantly over those years. In 2010, 51% of women and 49% of men reported having at least one sunburn in the past year. The results come from a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology.

Photo credit: © Spiritartist/iStockphoto

The rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have increased in recent years. Monitoring and reporting sun-protective behaviors and sunburns over time are important ways to measure the impact of skin cancer prevention activity and to track progress toward Healthy People 2020 objectives, noted lead author Dawn M. Holman and her coinvestigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To estimate how commonly people engage in these behaviors that protect against sun exposure, the researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey – Cancer Control Supplement, for years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010. The survey assessed the following behaviors as related to sun protection and sunburn: use of sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Respondents reported their use as being: always, most of the time, sometimes, rarely, or never for each item. Respondents were also asked about the number of sunburns they’ve had in the last year.

Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Analyses were limited to those aged 18-29 years – age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population. The researchers estimated the percentage who reported engaging in each behavior always or most of the time and the percentage reporting one or more sunburns in the past year overall, by gender and by race/ethnicity.

Among women, using sunscreen (37%) and staying in the shade (35%) were the most common reported protective behaviors in 2010. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt (5%) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (4%) were the least common. Black women were significantly less likely to report sunscreen use than were other racial/ethnic groups.

Among men, wearing long clothing to the ankles (33%) and staying in the shade (26%) were the most commonly reported behaviors in 2010. Fewer men reported using sunscreen (16%), wearing a long-sleeved shirt (8%), and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (7%). Of note, sunburn was significantly more common among non-Hispanic whites, compared with other racial/ethnic groups.

The results point to the "need for continued public health efforts to facilitate sun protection by: creating environments that support protective behaviors and by changing social norms regarding tanning and tanned skin. Facilitating sun protection may prevent sunburns and future increases in the burden of skin cancer," the researchers wrote.

The authors did not report whether they had any relevant financial interests.