Relationship Between Stages of Change and HPV Vaccine Attitudes and Beliefs in Baccalaureate Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine if there is a relationship between attitudes/beliefs about Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and stages of change and (b) investigate gender differences in attitudes/beliefs and stages of change in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. The study employs a cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design and it was guided by the Trans-theoretical Model of Change (TMC). The convenience sample was comprised of 131 participants at a large urban public university in Midwest United States. Data were collected with online surveys distributed via university email. A positive, moderate relationship was found between HPV vaccination attitudes/beliefs and stage of change (r=.36, p\u3c.001). Attitudes/beliefs and readiness to change were measured using multiple regression. An independent t-test was used to determine difference in male and female mean belief and attitude scores. Results show that those with more favorable attitudes/beliefs about HPV vaccination, as well as those who felt supported by others regarding obtaining the vaccine, were more likely to either be in the process of getting vaccinated or had already been vaccinated. Also, although there is no statistical difference in attitudes/beliefs about the HPV vaccine between males and females, males were less likely to have made efforts to be vaccinated compared with females (t= -2.99, p=.003). Therefore, it is possible that there is a gender disparity in knowledge about the vaccine or how to obtain it. The findings warrant further investigation as to what prevents males from being vaccinated

Reports of conferences, institutes, and seminars

This quarter’s column features reports from the New England Technical Services Librarians Spring Conference, entitled “iLibrary: Digital Futures for Libraries,” and held May 3 in Worcester, MA; the Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge, held May 18-21 in Timberline Lodge, OR; the North American Serials Interest Group Conference, entitled “Creating Harmony from Dis-Chord,” and held June 7-10 in Nashville, TN; and, a National Information Standards Organization Webinar, entitled “Making Better Decisions with Usage Statistics,” and presented June 13. © 2012 Elsevier Inc