Papillomavirus Infections / Papillomavirus Vaccines · Journal article

Application of an extended information-motivation-behavioral skills model to predict HPV vaccine acceptability among Chinese gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics · August 4, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This cross-sectional survey of 1,045 Chinese GBMSM used structural equation modeling to identify psychosocial predictors of HPV vaccine acceptability. Subjective norms (social influence) emerged as the dominant predictor, followed by health beliefs, information, and self-efficacy. The findings suggest that intervention strategies targeting social norms and self-efficacy may enhance vaccine uptake in this population, but the study does not test interventions or measure actual vaccination behavior.

What was studied

Cross-sectional online survey with structural equation modeling. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men living in mainland China. n = 1,045. Mainland China.

Key findings

HPV vaccine acceptability was moderate (mean 3.40, SD 1.14) on an unspecified scale Subjective norms were the strongest predictor of acceptability (β = 0.68, p <.001) Health beliefs positively predicted acceptability (β = 0.17, p <.01)

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

Clinicians and public health professionals designing HPV vaccination campaigns for Chinese GBMSM should prioritize interventions that strengthen social norms and peer support around vaccination, and enhance self-efficacy in vaccine uptake. However, this study measures acceptability (intention or willingness) rather than actual vaccination behavior; implementation of norm-based or self-efficacy interventions should be followed by measurement of real-world uptake.

Plain-language summary

Cross-sectional survey identifying psychosocial correlates of vaccine acceptability in a specific population; lacks comparator, intervention, or outcome follow-up, providing foundational evidence for intervention design rather than practice-changing guidance.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsOnline survey conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 among 1,045 GBMSM in mainland China. Participants reported HPV-related information, health beliefs, anticipated regret, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and HPV vaccine acceptability. Measurement and structural equation models were used to estimate direct and indirect pathways among variables.

DesignCross-sectional online survey with structural equation modeling

PopulationGay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men living in mainland China

Sample size1,045

SettingMainland China

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

HPV vaccine acceptability (mean)3.40

HPV vaccine acceptability (SD)1.14

Subjective norms–acceptability standardized coefficientβ = 0.68

Subjective norms p-valuep <.001

Health beliefs–acceptability standardized coefficientβ = 0.17

Health beliefs p-valuep <.01

Information–acceptability standardized coefficientβ = 0.14

Information p-valuep <.001

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

Study measures self-reported acceptability, not actual vaccination uptake or clinical outcomes
Cross-sectional design does not establish causality; observed associations may be confounded or reverse-causal
Online recruitment method and representativeness of sample not described; potential selection bias toward individuals with higher baseline health awareness or internet access
Scale used to measure acceptability (range, interpretation) not specified; mean 3.40 cannot be interpreted without knowing total possible score

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

moderate

Cross-sectional online survey; observational, no randomization or control arm.

Directness

moderate

Measures self-reported acceptability, not actual vaccination behavior or clinical outcomes.

Consistency

insufficient

Single study; no comparison to other populations or prior acceptability work cited.

Risk of bias

limited

Online self-report survey; selection bias and social desirability bias not addressed.

Sample adequacy

moderate

1,045 participants; adequate for SEM but sampling method and representativeness not described.

Source abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes substantial disease burden among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), yet HPV vaccination pathways for men remain evolving in mainland China. To apply a culturally adapted, extended Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model to identify psychosocial pathways associated with HPV vaccine acceptability among Chinese GBMSM. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 among 1,045 GBMSM living in mainland China. Measures included HPV-related information, health beliefs, anticipated regret, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and HPV vaccine acceptability. Measurement and structural equation models estimated direct and indirect pathways. HPV vaccine acceptability was moderate (mean 3.40, SD 1.14). Subjective norms were the strongest predictor of acceptability (β = 0.68, p <.001), with additional positive effects from health beliefs (β = 0.17, p <.01), information (β = 0.14, p <.001), and self-efficacy (β = 0.13, p =.02). Anticipated regret showed a positive indirect effect through self-efficacy (unstandardized B = 0.056, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.12) but a negative direct association with acceptability (β = -0.11, p =.03). HPV vaccine acceptability among Chinese GBMSM was shaped predominantly by social norms, with self-efficacy acting as a key pathway through which psychosocial factors were associated with acceptability.

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Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.

Papillomavirus InfectionsSin How LimLi Ping WongPapillomavirus VaccinesQiufeng Liu