Lower trust in doctors and health agencies linked to gaps in awareness that HPV causes cervical cancer

UT MD Anderson Research News June 24, 2026

• U.S. adults with less trust in government health agencies or doctors were less likely to be aware that HPV causes cervical cancer, study found

• Awareness gaps seen among men, individuals with lower educational attainment, and non-Hispanic Asian adults

• While most Americans (61.4%) understand that HPV causes cancer, findings highlight need for curated public health messaging

HOUSTON, JUNE 25, 2026 ― Trust in doctors and government health agencies may play an important role in whether U.S. adults know that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The cross-sectional study, published today in JAMA Network Open, found awareness that HPV causes cervical cancer was highest (70.2%) among adults who reported to have a lot of trust in government health agencies. Compared with this group, adults with only some trust had 29% lower odds of awareness, while those with little or no trust had 32% lower odds. Overall, 61.4% of respondents knew that HPV could cause cervical cancer.

“HPV vaccination and screening are powerful tools to prevent cervical cancer, but these tools depend on people understanding the link between HPV and cancer,” said corresponding author Sanjay Shete, Ph.D., professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. “Our findings suggest trust is not just a background issue, but may directly shape whether people receive, believe and act on important cancer prevention information.”

How does understanding how trust impacts HPV awareness help cervical cancer prevention? 

HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination can prevent most HPV-related cervical cancers. However, vaccine uptake in the U.S. remains below national goals, and previous studies have shown that public awareness of HPV and its link to cancer has declined in recent years.

Experts involved in this study say understanding how trust influences awareness may help public health leaders design more effective cancer prevention campaigns. 

What additional factors may play a role in whether a person is aware of the link between HPV and cancer? 

In this study, the researchers analyzed data from the nationally representative 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), which included 3,914 adults who had heard of HPV.

In addition to the primary results above, researchers found that adults with little or no trust in religious organizations for cancer information had higher odds of awareness that HPV causes cervical cancer, compared with those who had a lot of trust in religious organizations. Men had lower odds of knowing HPV causes cervical cancer compared to women. 

Adults with a high school education or some college had lower odds of awareness compared to those with a college or postgraduate degree. Non-Hispanic Asian adults also had lower odds of awareness compared with non-Hispanic white adults.

How can these findings be used to improve cervical cancer prevention?

The study authors suggest that efforts to improve awareness of the connection between HPV and cervical cancer should focus on rebuilding and maintaining trust in doctors, government health agencies and other credible sources of cancer information.

Potential strategies include national and local public awareness campaigns, community-based outreach, culturally tailored education, partnerships with trusted messengers, and engagement with faith-based and community organizations.

Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional design and the survey response rate, which may affect how broadly the findings can be generalized.

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This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (P30CA016672), the Betty B. Marcus Chair in Cancer Prevention, and the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment. A full list of collaborating authors and their disclosures can be found with the paper in JAMA Network Open.