The decision to counsel adolescents about HPV

To examine factors influencing dentists' intentions to counsel adolescents.

Florida dentists (N = 929) responded to 3 descriptions of an office visit by an adolescent patient. In the standard-of-care condition the patient consumed excessive sugar. In the other 2 conditions, a reliable source or patient's mother revealed the patient was sexually active and exposed to HPV.

Dentists expressed lower intentions to counsel about HPV than sugar consumption. In the 2 HPV conditions, dentists reported higher intentions to counsel when the mother, rather than another reliable source, disclosed the sexual activity. Perceived social pressure against counseling explained differences between conditions in intention to counsel.

Parent /public approval were primary barriers to HPV-counseling.