Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitudes of Research Assistant Physicians Working in a University Hospital in Turkey Regarding HPV Vaccine

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviors of research assistants regarding the HPV vaccine.

Methods: 135 research assistants working at Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine were included in the study. A 22-question survey was conducted using a face-to-face interview method to assess the research assistants’ knowledge and attitudes about the HPV vaccine.

Results: 61.5% of the participants were female and 38.5% were male. 11.9% of the research assistants stated that they had received the HPV vaccine. 56.3% of all participants stated that they had previously recommended the HPV vaccine to their patients. 68.8% of the research assistants who had received the HPV vaccine stated that they had previously recommended the HPV vaccine to their patients. It was determined that 15.6% of the participants did not know that the HPV vaccine was not included in the national vaccination program in Turkey. 25.9% of the research assistants stated that they thought the HPV vaccine was only administered to women. It was determined that 83% of the participants knew which age groups the HPV vaccine was administered to.

Conclusion: One of the most important results obtained in our study is that the frequency of HPV vaccination recommendation by research assistant physicians is higher compared to previous studies. Although this situation is pleasing, we think that providing informative training about the vaccine to all healthcare professionals will increase vaccine acceptance. However, vaccination may be at low levels due to the financial burden of the vaccine, therefore it is of great importance that the HPV vaccine is quickly included in the national vaccination program.