Awareness of Head and Neck Cancer, its Risk Factors, and of Human Papillomavirus—A Survey Study

ImportanceConstant rates of head and neck cancer (HNC) and increasing rates of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-driven oropharyngeal cancer highlight the need for increased awareness of HNC risk factors for primary and tertiary prevention.ObjectiveTo assess awareness of HNC and its risk factors, especially HPV, in patients with a confirmed or suspected HNC diagnosis and healthy controls.DesignA cross-sectional survey was conducted.SettingThe study was carried out at two university hospitals.ParticipantsIn total, 354 participants were included in the study, comprising 139 patients with confirmed HNC, 49 patients with suspected HNC, and 166 healthy controls.Interventions/ExposuresParticipants completed a questionnaire including HNC in general, its risk factors, and the role of HPV.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes were awareness of HNC risk factors and HPV-driven cancers. The evaluation was based on correct answers to knowledge questions.ResultsA general awareness of HNC was found in 70.3% of all participants. The major risk factors of HNC (smoking cigarettes and alcohol abuse, and HPV infection) were correctly identified in 63.3%, 39.5%, and 17.8%, respectively, with no statistical differences in the identification of the risk factors between the 3 groups. The correct recognition of HPV-associated cancer entities (cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, and vulvar/vaginal/penile cancer) was low, with 31.6%, 7.1%, 10.7%, and 13.6%, respectively. Notably, 63.0% of all participants were unaware of the possibility of an HPV vaccination.ConclusionAwareness of HNC and its risk factors, particularly alcohol and HPV, remains low across all groups, even among patients with a confirmed HNC diagnosis. Findings suggest a critical need for targeted educational efforts to improve primary and tertiary HNC prevention.RelevanceAddressing gaps in HNC awareness can help in prevention and early diagnosis, reducing the HNC burden. Future studies should explore effective educational strategies tailored to at-risk populations.