Research Article

What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?

Volume: 52 January 28, 2026
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What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?

Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the main reason for genital system cancers, especially cervical cancer, as well as oropharyngeal cancers. HPV vaccines have been developed to protect against HPV which has a prevalence of 43% among individuals aged 18–59. With necessary preventive measures, the incidence of cervical cancer is expected to decrease by 42% by the year 2045. Because medical students play an important role as future physicians in both their own health and in guidance of patients, their knowledge, their own attitudes and behaviours regarding vaccination are of great significance for public health. This cross-sectional study, which took place during the 2024–2025 academic year, was conducted with 4th, 5th, and 6th year students of Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine. A 38-question survey which was prepared based on current literature, was administered online. Data were evaluated via the usage of frequency analysis, percentages, and a Likert-type scale. Of the 203 students included in the study, only 7.9% had received the HPV vaccine. 6.9% of students reported that they had never heard of the HPV vaccine. Of those who had not been vaccinated, 57.4% stated the reason as high vaccine costs, while 10.8% reported insufficient knowledge as the main reason. Additionally, 29.7% of participants stated that they did not have any intention of getting vaccinated. The average knowledge level of students (0.866) was found to be adequate. While 84.7% of students reported that the source of their knowledge was based on their education at the faculty of medicine, only 21.2% considered the education provided by the faculty on vaccination to be sufficient. Including case-based trainings, interactive methods and small-group trainings in the medical school curriculum, may help enhance students’ knowledge and awareness regarding vaccination.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Participation in this study was entirely voluntary and consent was obtained from all participants. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this research.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infectious Diseases, Public Health (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 28, 2026

Submission Date

September 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 52

APA
Aydın, E. S., & Coskun, B. N. (2026). What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination? Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty, 52, 1774871. https://doi.org/10.32708/uutfd.1774871
AMA
1.Aydın ES, Coskun BN. What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination? Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty. 2026;52:1774871. doi:10.32708/uutfd.1774871
Chicago
Aydın, Elif Sude, and Belkis Nihan Coskun. 2026. “What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?”. Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty 52 (January): 1774871. https://doi.org/10.32708/uutfd.1774871.
EndNote
Aydın ES, Coskun BN (January 1, 2026) What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination? Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty 52 1774871.
IEEE
[1]E. S. Aydın and B. N. Coskun, “What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?”, Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty, vol. 52, p. 1774871, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.32708/uutfd.1774871.
ISNAD
Aydın, Elif Sude - Coskun, Belkis Nihan. “What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?”. Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty 52 (January 1, 2026): 1774871. https://doi.org/10.32708/uutfd.1774871.
JAMA
1.Aydın ES, Coskun BN. What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination? Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty. 2026;52:1774871.
MLA
Aydın, Elif Sude, and Belkis Nihan Coskun. “What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination?”. Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty, vol. 52, Jan. 2026, p. 1774871, doi:10.32708/uutfd.1774871.
Vancouver
1.Elif Sude Aydın, Belkis Nihan Coskun. What Do Medical Faculty Students Think About HPV Vaccination? Journal of Uludağ University Medical Faculty. 2026 Jan. 1;52:1774871. doi:10.32708/uutfd.1774871

ISSN: 1300-414X, e-ISSN: 2645-9027

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Journal of Uludag University Medical Faculty is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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