Assess the knowledge and awareness of Iranian medical students about human papilloma virus vaccination

Background and Aim : Cervical cancer is one of the five most common cancers in Iranian women. Dueto the high role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in cervical cancer, vaccine injection in all countries hasbeen considered. People s knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine have a significant role in preventionand it seems that raising awareness of physicians increases the awareness of the people. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate awareness of HPV vaccines and their benefits and side effects among medicalstudents of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences (SBMU).Methods : This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was performed among 520 of medical studentsof Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences (SBMU) .The data collection method was self-reportquestionnaire included 8 questions about HPV vaccines. Each question was scored from 0(Not aware) to10(full knowledge). Data analysis was performed with SPSS23 software using t-test and chi-square tests.Results : Five hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed and 513 medical students completedtheir questionnaires: The mean knowledge score of the students participating in this study was 5.27 with astandard deviation of 2.3. According to the classification of the scores in this study, this score is in themedium range. The highest awareness was for the first question (awareness of cervical cancer and itsrelation with HPV) with a mean of 6.35 ± 1.77 and the lowest awareness was for the last question(knowledge of the side effects of the vaccine) with a mean of 4.09 ± 2.12.Conclusion : In general, the mean scores of awareness were in the medium range. Given the fact that thestudy was conducted in medical students, the statistics are far from being expected. Therefore, it issuggested that more attention must be paid to this issue during the training period, because increasedawareness of the future students as a physician will eventually increase awareness of the role of the vaccinein preventing cancer, thereby reducing its mortality and recovery and increase health status of thecommunity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cervical Cancer ، HPV Vaccine ، human papilloma Virus ، Knowledge ، Medical Students