The vaccination status and attitudes toward human papillomavirus among gynecologists in China: A cross-sectional survey

Gynecologists are the main group promoting vaccines. Previous studies have paid less attention to their human papillomavirus(HPV) vaccination status.Understanding their acceptance and true attitudes toward vaccines, as well as the reasons for not getting vaccinated, is of great significance for promoting vaccines. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to August 2024 across six Chinese cities by the Cancer Endocrinology Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, using a convenience sampling strategy to distribute questionnaires to gynecologists in tertiary public hospitals. Results were presented as case numbers (percentages), with group comparisons made using either the χ² test or Fisher's exact probability method; influencing factors were analyzed via logistic regression. Out of 577 collected questionnaires, 563 were valid. The vaccination rate among female gynecologists was 46.07% (223/484), with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine being most common at 40.36%. The primary reason for not vaccinating was exceeding age limits, followed by male gender. And 12.35% of gynecologists were reluctant to vaccinate due to annual cervical cancer screening. 83.13% (468/563) gynecologists supported male vaccination.The level of support for vaccinating underage daughters was significantly higher than that for sons (87.74% vs. 68.92%, p<.001). It is essential to enhance public awareness of the protective benefits of HPV vaccination for males and its efficacy in preventing various diseases beyond cervical cancer.