Barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination among adult men: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

In 30 seconds

This qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis examined barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination among adult men and how healthcare services address vaccination needs. It synthesized ten studies from four countries, with evidence concentrated among sexual minority men, sex workers, and men already engaged with healthcare. Barriers included gendered perceptions of HPV, low perceived susceptibility, stigma, provider communication failures, cost, and access challenges. Provider recommendation, supportive relationships, integrated care pathways, and access to health information were facilitators. The review also identified gaps between needs, available resources, and service use, particularly beyond preventive care.

Key findings

• Ten studies across four countries were included; six were conducted in the United States.
• Barriers included low perceived susceptibility, stigma and disclosure concerns, provider communication failures, economic constraints, and structural access challenges.
• Provider recommendation, supportive relationships, integrated care pathways, and access to health information facilitated vaccination.
• The review identified gaps between vaccination needs, healthcare resources, and service utilization, particularly outside preventive care.

Why it matters

The synthesis shows that adult men's vaccination decisions are shaped by interacting individual, social, and healthcare-system factors. Recognizing these influences can help frame efforts to improve access and communication, while the identified service gaps highlight that vaccination needs may not be addressed through preventive care alone.

What to keep in mind

The evidence base was concentrated among sexual minority men, sex workers, and healthcare-engaged men; six of ten studies were conducted in the United States, limiting generalizability to adult men more broadly.