Assessment of Perceptions of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Among Japanese Healthcare Professional University Students Using Text Mining Analysis

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is crucial, particularly for preventing cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of HPV vaccination among healthcare university students in Okayama City, Japan, with the goal of promoting HPV vaccination in the future.
Methods: The study enrolled 168 students (94 male students and 74 female students, median age: 20 (minimum: 18, maximum: 27)) from a healthcare university in Okayama, Japan. Data collected included sex, age, year, HPV vaccination status, knowledge about HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening status (for female students). Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on their perceptions of HPV vaccination. The responses were analyzed using text mining.
Results: The HPV vaccination rate among female participants was 16.2% (12 out of 74). Of the respondents, 43.6% of male respondents and 52.7% of female respondents knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. Text mining revealed that among the female respondents, the most frequently used words were “think”, followed by “vaccine”, “side effects”, “vaccination”, and “frightening”. Distinctive words among female respondents, especially those who haven't been vaccinated, include knowing the term "HPV," understanding that HPV causes cervical cancer, and for those who haven't had screenings, terms like "side effects" and " frightening" were common.
Conclusion: Among female students at the healthcare university, the HPV vaccination rate was thought to be comparatively low. Among those who had not received the HPV vaccine, it was particularly noted that they knew the term "HPV," were aware that HPV caused cervical cancer, and for those who had not undergone screenings, providing accurate information about "side effects" and " frightening" seemed necessary.

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