MEASURING THE KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF LABORATORY WORKERS ABOUT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND VACCINES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Year 2025, Volume: 35 Issue: 3, 481 - 486, 30.06.2025

Burak Ezer , Tunahan Uygun , Selin Uğraklı

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1630392

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge level of laboratory workers about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and vaccines.
Material and Methods: Our study included doctors, technicians, biologists, doctoral and graduate students, and secretaries between the ages of 18-65 who actively work in biochemistry, microbiology, and pathology laboratories; 113 people accepted to fill out the survey. The HPV knowledge scale survey consists of a 22-question introductory characteristics form and a 33-question HPV knowledge level form. In our cross-sectional study, the HPV knowledge scale questionnaire consists of 5 main headings: sociodemographic data, general HPV knowledge level, knowledge status about HPV screening test, knowledge status about two types of HPV vaccines, and knowledge status about current HPV vaccines. The survey was administered via Google Forms after the necessary explanations were made.
Results: While the mean HPV knowledge score was found to be statistically significantly higher in women, those with a master's degree or higher, doctors, and those who stated that they had "enough knowledge" about HPV (p<0.05), the mean HPV knowledge score was found to be statistically significantly lower in those working in the biochemistry unit (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers, especially laboratory workers, should have sufficient knowledge about HPV, which can cause many pathologies including cervical cancer. Units and employees with deficiencies in their knowledge should be given the necessary training, and awareness about HPV and vaccines should be increased. Increasing health literacy is very important. By increasing the level of HPV knowledge, it is aimed to increase the level of knowledge not only of women but also of men. Information gaps regarding HPV transmission routes, vaccines and protection methods should be eliminated.

Keywords

Human Papilloma Virus, Laboratory Workers, Knowledge Level, Vaccine

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was obtained from the Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine Non-Drug and Medical Device Research Board with the decision number 2024/5162.

Supporting Institution

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Thanks

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LABORATUVAR ÇALIŞANLARININ HUMAN PAPİLLOMAVİRUS VE AŞILARI HAKKINDAKİ BİLGİ DÜZEYLERİNİN ÖLÇÜLMESİ: KESİTSEL BİR ÇALIŞMA

Abstract

Amaç: Literatürde çeşitli laboratuvarlarda çalışan sağlık profesyonellerinin Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin araştırıldığı çalışmalar kısıtlıdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı laboratuvar çalışanlarının HPV ve aşıları hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerini tespit etmektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamıza biyokimya, mikrobiyoloji ve patoloji laboratuvarlarında aktif olarak çalışan 18-65 yaş aralığındaki doktor, teknisyen, biyolog, doktora ve yüksek lisans öğrencileri, sekreterler dahil edilmiş olup; 113 kişi anket doldurmayı kabul etmiştir. HPV bilgi ölçeği anketi, 22 sorudan oluşan tanıtıcı özellikler formu ve 33 sorudan oluşan HPV bilgi düzeyini içeren formlardan oluşmaktadır. Kesitsel bir araştırma olan çalışmamızda HPV bilgi ölçeği anketi; sosyodemografik özellikler, HPV genel bilgi düzeyi, HPV tarama testi hakkındaki bilgi durumu, iki tip HPV aşısı hakkındaki bilgi düzeyi ve mevcut HPV aşıları hakkındaki bilgi durumu olmak üzere 5 ana başlıktan oluşmaktadır. Anketin uygulanması gerekli açıklamalar yapıldıktan sonra Google Forms üzerinden yapılmıştır.
Bulgular: HPV bilgi puan ortalamaları kadınlarda, yüksek lisans ve üzerinde eğitim alanlarda, doktorlarda ve HPV bilgi düzeyini “yeterince bilgim var” diyen gruplarda istatiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmasına karşın (p<0,05), biyokimya biriminde çalışanlarda HPV bilgi puan ortalamaları istatiksel olarak anlamlı derecede düşük bulunmuştur (p<0,05).
Sonuç: Sağlık çalışanlarının özellikle de laboratuvar çalışanlarının serviks kanseri dahil olmak üzere birçok patolojiye sebep olabilen HPV hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri yeterli olmalıdır. Bilgi düzeylerinde eksiklik saptanan birim ve çalışanlara gerekli eğitimler verilmeli, HPV ve aşıları hakkında farkındalık arttırılmaya çalışılmalıdır. Sağlık okuryazarlılığının arttırılması oldukça önemlidir. HPV bilgi düzeyi artırılarak, sadece kadınların değil erkeklerin de bilgi düzeyinin arttırılması amaçlanmalı; HPV bulaş yolları, aşıları ve korunma yöntemleriyle ilgili bilgi eksiklikleri giderilmelidir.

Keywords

Human Papilloma Virus, Laboratuvar Çalışanları, Bilgi Düzeyi, Aşı

Ethical Statement

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi İlaç ve Tıbbi Cihaz Dışı Araştırmalar Kurulu tarafından 2024/5162 sayılı kararla etik kurulu onayı alınmıştır.

Supporting Institution

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Thanks

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