English 
正體中文 
Research conducted by Gui‑Hui Chu, Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Yuan Ze University, on Taiwanese adult men’s willingness to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was recently accepted for publication in the international journal American Journal of Men’s Health.
As one of the few empirical studies in Taiwan focusing specifically on the male population, the research highlighted a significant shift in gender health and public health research—from a traditionally female‑centered perspective toward a more inclusive, population‑wide approach.
Professor Chu explained that the study used a cross-sectional design, surveying 217 men aged 20 and above to examine the relationships among HPV-related knowledge, attitudes toward vaccination, and vaccination intention. The results indicated that attitudes toward the vaccine were the most critical factor influencing vaccination intention (β = 0.71, p < 0.001), with the overall model explaining 54.1% of the variance. These findings underscore the pivotal role of cognitive processes in shaping health-related behaviors.
Professor Chu further noted that HPV prevention efforts in the past had largely focused on women and cervical cancer, resulting in men being relatively overlooked in vaccination policies and health education. However, men were also key populations in HPV infection and transmission. Internationally, the World Health Organization has advocated for gender-neutral vaccination policies, and countries in Europe, North America, and Australia have already included men in publicly funded vaccination programs, moving toward population-wide prevention. In contrast, Taiwan’s current policy primarily targets junior high school girls, with most men required to pay out of pocket, revealing a persistent gender gap in vaccination policy.
The study found that Taiwanese men generally had insufficient knowledge about HPV and the vaccine and often perceived it as a “women‑only vaccine,” which further reduced their willingness to be vaccinated. Professor Chu stated that adopting a gender‑neutral perspective and improving men’s understanding of and trust in the HPV vaccine could enhance individual health protection and strengthen disease prevention at the population level. Beyond filling a gap in domestic research on men’s HPV vaccination behavior, the study also provided important evidence to inform future government policies on gender-neutral vaccination and strategies to promote men’s health. She suggested that future efforts could integrate digital health technologies and behavior change theories to develop more precise health promotion models, thereby increasing vaccination uptake and reducing gender disparities in health.
The College of Medicine and Nursing, Yuan Ze University, noted that Professor Chu had long been engaged in research on gender health, maternal and child care, and health behaviors, actively integrating interdisciplinary approaches and digital technologies to address clinical and public health needs through evidence‑based research. The publication of this study in an international journal not only demonstrated academic excellence but also further enhanced Yuan Ze University’s international impact in the field of health care research.
