STEPS (Study To Examine Parent, Patient/Dental Provider Systems) to Prevent Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Related Cancers: A Piloted Dental Patient and Provider Evaluation of Current and Future HPV Education.

Oropharyngeal human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers are prevalent, but HPV education in dental clinics is uncommon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental provider and patient knowledge from, attitudes towards, and preferences for HPV education, then assess perceptions of existing HPV educational materials for use at dental visits. Appalachian Ohio dental patients (n = 13) and general/pediatric dental providers (n = 10) completed an initial, close-ended survey on current HPV knowledge and HPV educational attitudes, participation, and resource preferences. Select individuals reviewed existing HPV educational videos and toolkits via virtual focus groups (n = 9) or independent review surveys (n = 6). Using a discussion guide, participants responded to overall, visual, auditory, and content satisfaction statements, orally (focus groups) or with Likert scales (independent reviews). Surveys were summarized with frequencies/percentages; transcripts were qualitatively coded to identify potential material modifications. Dental providers and patients were more comfortable with HPV and oral cancer education (87% and 96%, respectively) and screening (96%) than with HPV vaccine education (74%) and referrals (61%) during dental visits. Providers were neither sharing HPV educational materials (80%) nor initiating educational conversations with dental patients (100%). The American Cancer Society videos and the "Team Maureen" toolkit were the most liked resources (i.e., fewer negative/disagree statements) by all participant groups. Findings indicate that future dental HPV educational efforts should be informed by currently available materials. Additional interventions are needed to promote dental provider discussions and sharing of educational materials with patients to increase education and promotion of the HPV vaccine and reduce oropharyngeal cancers.

Correlates of youth Poly-E-Cigarette device use.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine poly-e-cigarette (poly-EC) device use among youth EC users and identify factors associated with poly- versus single-EC device use status. METHODS: 861 EC users aged 14-21 responded to an online survey about EC use and sociodemographic factors in August 2020. Respondents were included if they were current EC users (i.e., at least one day in the past 30 days) and excluded if they were currently using other tobacco products (OTPs). RESULTS: Data analysis indicated poly-EC device use was associated with higher self-reported nicotine dependence, younger age of onset, having close friends who use ECs and higher or lower self-perceived socioeconomic status compared to others. CONCLUSIONS: Young poly-EC device users were more likely to begin using at a younger age, live with and have close friends who were EC users, and report greater nicotine dependence. Identifying temporality in these associations can identify youth at greater risk of poly-EC use. Future research should examine poly-EC device use in prospective surveillance monitoring to further evaluate the longitudinal implications on use and dependence.