Knowledge levels, attitudes, and awareness of nursing and medical faculty students regarding cervical cancer and human papillomavirus vaccine

Abstract

Aim: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. The primary risk factor is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This study’s aim was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and awareness levels of health sciences students regarding cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. Method: The study was conducted with 1101 students from the medical and nursing faculties of a university between December 15, 2017, and December 15, 2018. A questionnaire was used to assess participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge about HPV, Pap smear test, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer, as well as their attitudes and awareness levels regarding cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. Results: A total of 1101 students, with an average age of 21.4 years, participated in the study; 559 were female, and 542 were male. Of the participants, 74.5% were medical students and 25.5% were nursing students. The percentage of participants who believed in a causal relationship between cervical cancer and HPV was 94.5%, those who did not trust the HPV vaccine was 23%, those who had been vaccinated against HPV was 6.7%, and those with family members vaccinated against HPV was 9.2%. Medical students had higher knowledge levels than nursing students (p<0.001). Additionally, final-year students had higher knowledge levels compared to first-year students (p<0.001). Conclusion: Health sciences students generally demonstrated high knowledge levels about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. However, there was a notable level of distrust in the HPV vaccine. Our findings suggest the need for increased awareness and educational efforts regarding the HPV vaccine among nursing and medical students. The higher knowledge levels among medical students and final-year students indicate that health sciences education programs should be redesigned to address these gaps.

Keywords

• HPV vaccine
• Human Papillomavirus
• cervical cancer
• student

Sağlık Bilimleri Alanında Okuyan Öğrencilerin Serviks Kanseri ve Human Papilloma Virüs Aşısı Hakkındaki Bilgi, Tutum ve Farkındalık Düzeyleri

Abstract

Amaç: Serviks kanseri, dünya genelinde kadınlarda en sık görülen ve en sık ölüme neden olan dördüncü kanser türüdür. Başlıca risk faktörü ise Human Papilloma Virüsüdür (HPV). Çalışmanın amacı, sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin serviks kanseri ve HPV aşısı hakkındaki bilgi düzeyini, tutumunu ve farkındalığını belirlemekti. Yöntem: Çalışma, bir üniversitenin tıp ve hemşirelik fakültelerinde eğitim gören 1101 öğrenci ile 15 Aralık 2017 – 15 Aralık 2018 arasında yürütüldü. Katılımcıların demografik özelliklerinin, HPV, pap-smear testi, HPV aşısı ve serviks kanseri ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerinin, serviks kanseri ve HPV aşısı hakkında tutumlarının ve farkındalık düzeylerinin sorgulandığı bir anket kullanıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 21.4 yıl olan 1101 öğrenci katıldı; 559'u kız, 542'si erkekti. Katılımcıların %74.5'i tıp, %25.5'i hemşirelik fakültesi öğrencisiydi. Serviks kanseri ve HPV arasında nedensellik olduğunu düşünenlerin oranı %94.5, HPV aşısına güvenmeyenlerin oranı %23, HPV aşısı yaptıranların oranı %6.7 ve HPV aşısı ile aşılı aile bireyine sahip olanların oranı %9.2 idi. Tıp öğrencilerinin bilgi düzeyi, hemşirelik öğrencilerinden daha yüksek bulundu (p<0.001). Ayrıca, son sınıf öğrencilerinin bilgi düzeyleri, ilk yıl öğrencilerinin bilgi düzeylerinden daha yüksekti (p<0.001). Sonuç: Sağlık bilimleri öğrencileri arasında serviks kanseri ve HPV aşısı konusunda genel olarak yüksek bilgi düzeyi tespit edildi. Bununla birlikte, HPV aşısına güvensizliğe rastlandı. Bulgularımız, hemşirelik ve tıp fakültelerinde okuyan öğrencileri HPV aşısı hakkında bilinçlendirme ve sağlık bilimleri eğitim programlarını yapılandırma uygulamalarına katkı sağlayabilir.

Keywords

• Serviks Kanseri
• Human Papilloma Virüs
• HPV Aşısı
• öğrenci

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