Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that significantly affects the population worldwide. HPV preventive methods include vaccination, prophylactics, and education. Different types of cancers associated with HPV usually take years or decades to develop after infections,...

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Main Authors: Norangelys Solis-Torres, Isardo Braverman-Diaz, Luis A. Rivera-Morales, Jose J. Perez-Sanchez, Valeria S. Perez-Bravo, Angel J. Neris-Sanchez, Alexis Vera, Yaritza Diaz-Algorri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2344248
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author Norangelys Solis-Torres
Isardo Braverman-Diaz
Luis A. Rivera-Morales
Jose J. Perez-Sanchez
Valeria S. Perez-Bravo
Angel J. Neris-Sanchez
Alexis Vera
Yaritza Diaz-Algorri
author_facet Norangelys Solis-Torres
Isardo Braverman-Diaz
Luis A. Rivera-Morales
Jose J. Perez-Sanchez
Valeria S. Perez-Bravo
Angel J. Neris-Sanchez
Alexis Vera
Yaritza Diaz-Algorri
author_sort Norangelys Solis-Torres
collection DOAJ
description The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that significantly affects the population worldwide. HPV preventive methods include vaccination, prophylactics, and education. Different types of cancers associated with HPV usually take years or decades to develop after infections, such as Head and Neck Cancer(HNC). Therefore, HPV prevention can be considered cancer prevention. A sample of medical students in Puerto Rico was evaluated to assess their knowledge about HPV, HPV vaccine, and HNC through two previously validated online questionnaires composed of 38 dichotomized questions, we measured HPV, HPV vaccination(HPVK), and HNC knowledge (HNCK). Out of 104 students surveyed, the mean HPVK score obtained was 20.07/26, SD = 3.86, while the mean score for HNCK was 6.37/12, SD = 1.78. Bidirectional stepwise regression showed study year and HPV Vaccine name had been the most influential variables on HPVK and HNCK. MS1 participants scored lower than MS2-MS4 participants, with no significant difference between MS2-MS4 scores. The results reveal knowledge gaps in HPV/HPV Vaccine and HNC among surveyed medical students. Our findings also suggest an association between knowledge of personal vaccination status, self-perceived risk, and how uncertainty in these factors may affect the medical students’ understanding of HPV, HPV vaccination, and associated cancers.
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spelling doaj-art-fa25e0ced4b94d09b1795607e4c6f4412025-08-20T02:17:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2024-12-0120110.1080/21645515.2024.2344248Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancerNorangelys Solis-Torres0Isardo Braverman-Diaz1Luis A. Rivera-Morales2Jose J. Perez-Sanchez3Valeria S. Perez-Bravo4Angel J. Neris-Sanchez5Alexis Vera6Yaritza Diaz-Algorri7Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoMaster of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto RicoThe Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that significantly affects the population worldwide. HPV preventive methods include vaccination, prophylactics, and education. Different types of cancers associated with HPV usually take years or decades to develop after infections, such as Head and Neck Cancer(HNC). Therefore, HPV prevention can be considered cancer prevention. A sample of medical students in Puerto Rico was evaluated to assess their knowledge about HPV, HPV vaccine, and HNC through two previously validated online questionnaires composed of 38 dichotomized questions, we measured HPV, HPV vaccination(HPVK), and HNC knowledge (HNCK). Out of 104 students surveyed, the mean HPVK score obtained was 20.07/26, SD = 3.86, while the mean score for HNCK was 6.37/12, SD = 1.78. Bidirectional stepwise regression showed study year and HPV Vaccine name had been the most influential variables on HPVK and HNCK. MS1 participants scored lower than MS2-MS4 participants, with no significant difference between MS2-MS4 scores. The results reveal knowledge gaps in HPV/HPV Vaccine and HNC among surveyed medical students. Our findings also suggest an association between knowledge of personal vaccination status, self-perceived risk, and how uncertainty in these factors may affect the medical students’ understanding of HPV, HPV vaccination, and associated cancers.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2344248Human Papillomavirus (HPV)HPV vaccineHPV knowledgeHead and Neck Cancer (HNC)HNC knowledgemedical students
spellingShingle Norangelys Solis-Torres
Isardo Braverman-Diaz
Luis A. Rivera-Morales
Jose J. Perez-Sanchez
Valeria S. Perez-Bravo
Angel J. Neris-Sanchez
Alexis Vera
Yaritza Diaz-Algorri
Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV vaccine
HPV knowledge
Head and Neck Cancer (HNC)
HNC knowledge
medical students
title Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
title_full Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
title_fullStr Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
title_full_unstemmed Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
title_short Medical students’ knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer
title_sort medical students knowledge about human papillomavirus hpv hpv vaccine and head and neck cancer
topic Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV vaccine
HPV knowledge
Head and Neck Cancer (HNC)
HNC knowledge
medical students
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2344248
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