Italian Health Care Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Human Papillomavirus Infection and Prevention

Cecilia Trucchi, Vincenzo Restivo, Daniela Amicizia, Francesca Fortunato, Alessia Manca, Domenico Martinelli, Alfredo Montecucco, Maria Francesca Piazza, Rosa Prato, Valentino Tisa, Filippo Ansaldi and Giancarlo Icardi
Additional contact information
Cecilia Trucchi: Azienda Ligure Sanitaria, 16121 Genoa, Italy
Vincenzo Restivo: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Daniela Amicizia: Azienda Ligure Sanitaria, 16121 Genoa, Italy
Francesca Fortunato: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Alessia Manca: Occupational Medicine Unit, I.R.C.C.S. San Martino Hospital, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Domenico Martinelli: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Alfredo Montecucco: Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Maria Francesca Piazza: Azienda Ligure Sanitaria, 16121 Genoa, Italy
Rosa Prato: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
Valentino Tisa: Department of Primary Care, Local Health Units 4, 16043 Chiavari, Italy
Filippo Ansaldi: Azienda Ligure Sanitaria, 16121 Genoa, Italy
Giancarlo Icardi: Planning and Prevention Unit, I.R.C.C.S. San Martino Hospital, 16132 Genoa, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Objective: To assess healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, related diseases, and prevention. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter survey about HPV and its prevention, targeted to healthcare workers involved in HPV vaccine counseling, was performed from May 2017 to December 2018. Results: The overall median knowledge and attitude scores were 69.2% (25–75, p = 61.5–84.6) and 5 (25–75, p = 4–5), respectively. Both knowledge and attitudes statistically significantly differ between physicians and healthcare professions. The median propensity score before and after the educational intervention was stable and high, at 10 (25–75, p = 9–10). The predictors of statistically significantly high knowledge scores are to be a physician, general practitioner, or pediatrician, attending courses/congresses, and consulting technical product characteristics and scientific literature to obtain information about the HPV vaccine. Being a physician and consulting scientific literature to obtain information about the HPV vaccine were found also as predictors of statistically significantly different attitude scores among study participants. Conclusions: Although healthcare workers showed overall positive attitudes towards the relevance of HPV burden and prevention tools, demonstrated knowledge was largely suboptimal, particularly that shown by healthcare professions. Obtained results allow highlighting knowledge gaps, and thus improving counselling to HPV vaccine targets.

Keywords: HPV; knowledge; practice; attitude; awareness; healthcare workers; vaccine; immunization; prevention; sexually transmitted infection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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