Research Trends and Gaps in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention in South Korea: A Scoping Review

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. HPV vaccination is the most effective public health strategy for its prevention. Understanding the factors influencing vaccination intentions is critical for developing effective public health policies and improving population-level vaccine uptake. Therefore, in this scoping review, we aimed to examine HPV vaccination research conducted in Korea, identify common trends and gaps in study populations and influencing factors, and provide evidence-based recommendations for public health policies. Methods: We systematically searched four Korean databases-Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), DBpia, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and National Digital Science Library (NDSL)-for studies published from their respective inception dates to January 2025, using "human papillomavirus," "HPV," "vaccination," and "intention" as keywords. Thirty-six studies were ultimately included. Study characteristics, populations, theoretical frameworks, and key variables were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: Of the included studies, 61.1% and 38.9% targeted vaccination-eligible individuals (adolescents and adults) and parents/guardians, respectively, with 50% focusing exclusively on women. The major factors influencing HPV vaccination intention were attitude (47.2%), subjective norms (38.9%), and perceived behavioral control (30.9%). Attitude and knowledge were critical for vaccination-eligible individuals (Direct group), whereas subjective norms were key for parents/guardians (Indirect group). Conclusions: Korean HPV vaccination intention research has predominantly focused on women and parents, with insufficient attention to adolescents and men. Public health strategies must employ multilevel interventions tailored to each group's decision-making structures, including school-based programs for adolescents, gender-inclusive policies for men, and community-based approaches to address social norms among parents. These findings provide evidence for policy development aligned with the WHO cervical cancer elimination goals.