Evaluation of awareness levels of patients applying to a faculty of dentistry regarding HPV vaccine and oral and oropharyngeal cancer: A pre-test / post-test design

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness levels of patients applying to the Faculty of Dentistry regarding HPV, oral, and oropharyngeal cancers, and to investigate the effectiveness of written educational materials in increasing this awareness. Material and Methods: This observational, prospective, and quasi-experimental study included 154 volunteer participants who applied to the Faculty of Dentistry at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University. A questionnaire on HPV, oral, and oropharyngeal cancers was administered before the educational intervention. Participants were then provided with an educational brochure, and the same questionnaire was re-administered afterward. Results: The mean total awareness score increased from 5.7 ± 3.1 before the education to 13.8 ± 2.2 after the education. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the proportion of correct answers for all questions after the intervention (p < 0.05). While factors such as age, education level, and frequency of dental visits affected knowledge levels before education, these differences were largely eliminated after the intervention. Conclusion: Written educational materials were found to be effective in enhancing awareness regarding HPV, oral, and oropharyngeal cancers. The educational intervention resulted in knowledge improvement across all demographic groups and promoted equity, particularly among individuals with lower baseline knowledge. Active involvement of dentists in this process may play a pivotal role in the prevention of HPV-related cancers.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mouth neoplasms
• vaccines
• Dentist
• Human Papillomavirus
• oropharyngeal neoplasms
• health knowledge

Diş hekimliği fakültesine başvuran hastaların HPV aşısı ile oral ve orofaringeal kanser konusundaki farkındalıklarının değerlendirilmesi: Ön test / son test tasarımı

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, diş hekimliği fakültesine başvuran hastaların HPV ile oral ve orofaringeal kanser konusundaki farkındalık düzeylerini değerlendirmeyi ve yazılı eğitim materyali aracılığıyla bu farkındalığın artırılabilirliğini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Gözlemsel, prospektif ve yarı deneysel olarak tasarlanan çalışmaya, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi’ne başvuran 154 gönüllü birey katılmıştır. Katılımcılara, eğitim öncesinde HPV ile oral ve orofaringeal kanser hakkında bir anket uygulanmış; ardından yazılı broşürle bilgilendirme yapılmış ve sonrasında aynı anket tekrar uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Eğitim öncesi toplam farkındalık puanı ortalaması 5.7±3.1 iken, eğitim sonrası 13.8±2.2’ye yükselmiştir. Eğitim sonrasında tüm sorularda doğru yanıt oranlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı artış saptanmıştır (p<0.05). Eğitim öncesinde yaş, eğitim düzeyi ve diş hekimi ziyaret sıklığı gibi faktörler bilgi düzeyini etkilerken, eğitim sonrası bu farklılıkların büyük ölçüde ortadan kalktığı görülmüştür. Sonuç: Yazılı eğitim materyalleri, HPV, oral ve orofaringeal kanser farkındalığını artırmada etkili bulunmuştur. Eğitim, tüm demografik gruplarda bilgi artışı sağlamış ve özellikle düşük bilgi düzeyine sahip bireylerde eşitliği teşvik etmiştir. Diş hekimlerinin bu sürece aktif katılımı, HPV kaynaklı kanserlerin önlenmesinde kritik rol oynayabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ağız kanseri
• aşı
• diş hekimi
• Human Papilloma Virüsü
• orofaringeal kanser
• sağlık bilgisi

Kaynakça

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