The relationship between HPV and penile cancer: Filling a knowledge gap in the general population

The interesting study by Zavaski et al highlights the significant need for dissemination of accurate and actionable human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer education aimed at the general population.1 The analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) reveals concerning facts about how little the sampled population of Americans knows about HPV and penile cancer; in this study, less than 65% of the study cohort had heard any information about HPV, with less than 30% being aware that HPV causes penile cancer. Considering the characteristics of the study, these results are probably an optimistic estimate of the proportion of Americans that have knowledge of HPV and the cancers these infections cause. The majority of participants who completed this questionnaire were young, highly educated (40% with college degree), had a higher income, and lived in urban areas; characteristics in sharp contrast to those of the typical high-risk penile cancer population. Therefore, we can assume that the true risk population for penile cancer has little to no knowledge about this important association, providing an impetus to broaden education and potential prevention campaigns to include use of social media to reach and educate the younger patient population