PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PHYSICIANS’ RECOMMENDATION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINATION

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an important component of cervical cancer prevention, yet its implementation depends partly on how healthcare professionals communicate with patients and caregivers. This narrative review considers psychological factors that may be associated with primary healthcare physicians’ recommendation of HPV vaccination, particularly vaccine confidence, perceived safety, professional self-efficacy, perceived social norms, and communication-related concerns. International guidance and studies involving healthcare professionals, including research from Kazakhstan, indicate that knowledge alone may not be sufficient: beliefs about vaccine safety, confidence in discussing HPV, and expectations about patient or community reactions may also be relevant to recommendation practices. The paper synthesizes these factors conceptually and identifies implications for professional support. It does not report new empirical data. Further local research should distinguish physicians’ stated intention to recommend vaccination from their actual recommendation behaviour and assess psychological factors alongside organizational conditions.