Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of primary health care workers regarding HPV infection and prevention: an example from Türkiye

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Turkish primary health care workers (HCWs) regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, screening, and vaccines. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with family physicians and nurses/midwives working in family health centers (FHC) in Sivas province in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye between January 1, 2023 and February 15, 2023. The sociodemographic data form and HPV Knowledge Scale were used. The independent sample t-test, the F test (ANOVA) (post hoc Bonferroni test), and the chi-squared test were performed. Results: The study was conducted with a total of 275 HCWs. Of the HCWs, 57.5% were nurses/midwives and 69.8% were female. All HCWs had heard of HPV, 97.8% had heard of the HPV test, and 84% had heard of the HPV vaccine. 79.3% had not recommended the HPV vaccine to pre-adolescents and 51.6% to people at risk. The most common reasons for this were the lack of information about HPV vaccines, their expense, and the lack of coverage by the government. The part with the lowest level of HPV knowledge was about the HPV vaccine. The total score of the scale was higher in males, physicians, and those who were working in the FHC unit where the adolescent rate was below 10%, in those who recommended the HPV vaccine, and in those who had not recommended the vaccine because it is expensive and not covered by the government. Conclusion: It is recommended to improve the lack of knowledge among HCWs, mainly those serving the adolescent population, about HPV vaccines. Government coverage of HPV vaccines may play a role in increasing the rate at which HCWs recommend these vaccines.

Keywords

• Human papillomavirus
• HPV vaccines
• Health knowledge
• attitudes
• practice

Birinci basamak sağlık çalışanlarının HPV enfeksiyonu ve korunmaya ilişkin bilgi, tutum ve davranışları: Türkiye'den bir örnek

Abstract

Giriş: Bu çalışma, Türk birinci basamak sağlık çalışanlarının human papillomavirus (HPV) enfeksiyonu, taramaları ve aşıları ile ilgili bilgi, tutum ve davranışlarını belirlemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel araştırma, 1 Ocak 2023 ile 15 Şubat 2023 tarihleri arasında Türkiye'nin İç Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Sivas ilinde aile sağlığı merkezlerinde (ASM) çalışan aile hekimleri ve hemşire/ebelerle yapıldı. Sosyodemografik veri formu ve HPV Bilgi Ölçeği kullanıldı. Bağımsız örneklem t-testi, F testi (ANOVA) (post hoc Bonferroni testi) ve ki-kare testi uygulandı. Bulgular: Çalışma toplam 275 sağlık çalışanı ile yürütüldü. Sağlık çalışanlarının %57,5'i hemşire/ebe ve %69,8'i kadındı. Tüm sağlık çalışanları HPV'yi duymuştu, %97,8'i HPV testini duymuştu ve %84'ü HPV aşısını duymuştu. %79,3'ü ergenlik öncesi çocuklara ve %51,6'sı risk altındaki kişilere HPV aşısını önermemişti. Bunun en sık nedenleri, HPV aşıları hakkında bilgi eksikliği, bunların maliyeti ve devlet tarafından karşılanmamasıydı. HPV bilgisinin en düşük olduğu kısım HPV aşısı ile ilgiliydi. Ölçek toplam puanı erkeklerde, hekimlerde, adölesan oranı %10'un altında olan ASM çalışanlarında, HPV aşısını önerenlerde ve pahalı olduğu ve devlet tarafından karşılanmadığı için aşıyı önermeyenlerde daha yüksekti. Sonuç: Başta adölesan popülasyona hizmet veren sağlık çalışanları olmak üzere sağlık çalışanlarının HPV aşıları konusundaki bilgi eksikliğinin giderilmesi önerilmektedir. HPV aşılarının devlet tarafından karşılanması, sağlık çalışanlarının bu aşıları tavsiye etme oranını artırmada rol oynayabilir.

Keywords

• Human papillomavirüsü
• HPV aşıları
• Sağlık bilgisi
• tutum
• uygulama

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