Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania

Toader Septimiu Voidăzan, Mihaela Alexandra Budianu, Florin Francisc Rozsnyai, Zsolt Kovacs, Cosmina Cristina Uzun and Nicoleta Neagu
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Toader Septimiu Voidăzan: Department of Epidemiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
Mihaela Alexandra Budianu: Department of Epidemiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
Florin Francisc Rozsnyai: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
Zsolt Kovacs: Department of Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
Cosmina Cristina Uzun: Department of Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania
Nicoleta Neagu: Department of Epidemiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: (1) Background: The infection with Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and it has been associated with cervical cancer (CC) in 99.7% of the cases. In Romania, CC is the second most common, with incidence (22.6% 000 ) and mortality rates (9.6% 000 ) three times higher than any other European country. Our aim was to assess the level of knowledge regarding HPV infection among parents, highschool students, medical students and doctors, with an emphasis on their main source of information—the Internet. (2) Methods: We applied five questionnaires to six categories of respondents: parents of pupils in the 6th–8th grades, medical students, doctors, boys in the 11th–12th grades, girls in the 11th–12th grades and their mothers. (3) Results: We included a total of 3108 respondents. 83.83% of all respondents had known about HPV infection. The level of information about HPV infection and vaccination was either satisfactory, poor or very poor. Their main source of information varied depending on the respondent profile and professional activity. Medical students were informed by doctors and healthcare professionals (53.0%), doctors gathered their information from books, journals and specialized brochures (61.6%). For the other categories of respondents, the Internet was the main source of information. Most respondents answered that doctors and healthcare professionals should provide information on HPV infection and vaccination, but very few of them actually seeked information from their general practitioner. (4) Conclusions: Population adherence to the appropriate preventative programs, as well as relevant information disseminated by the medical staff are key elements towards reducing the risk of HPV-associated cancers. An important role could also be played by schools, where teachers and school doctors could provide relevant information on the general aspects of HPV infection. Additionally, sex education classes and parent-teacher meetings should cover the main characteristics of HPV infection and what preventative measures can be employed against it.

Keywords: HPV vaccination; HPV infection; sources of information; internet; patient education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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