Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use
Objective: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted among young people of both sexes. It is also the main cause of cervical cancer. This study aimed at assessing students’ knowledge and health beliefs about HPV infection and the use of the vaccine. Methods: The s...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.waocp.com/journal/index.php/apjcc/article/view/246 |
| _version_ | 1797344759281352704 |
|---|---|
| author | Fatjona Kamberi Eva Muhaj |
| author_facet | Fatjona Kamberi Eva Muhaj |
| author_sort | Fatjona Kamberi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted among young people of both sexes. It is also the main cause of cervical cancer. This study aimed at assessing students’ knowledge and health beliefs about HPV infection and the use of the vaccine.
Methods: The sample of the cross-sectional study was 120 randomly selected nursing students from the Faculty of Public Health, University of Vlore “Ismail Qemali” Albania. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire based on the literature and Health Belief Model, was used for data collection in May 2017. The questionnaire included assessment questions for students’ knowledge and health beliefs about HPV and vaccine use. Also, questions about socio-demographic characteristics were included. Data analysis included the calculation of averages, frequencies, and confidence intervals. P values ≤0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.
Result: Mean age 20.3±2.2 years, 92.44 % of students were female. 65.83% of students know that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and a vaccine is available to prevent it. Ambiguities and uncertainties exist in regard to screening with Pap test after vaccination. Perceived benefits are high for 50.83% of students. Perceived severity appeared low as only 25% of students agree that they may be affected by HPV. Statistical association, p =0.0347 was found between perceived risk and the year of study. The parents’ role in vaccination against HPV have a strong statistical association, p=0.0058 with the year of study as only 8.33 % of students in the third year agree with the fact that that parents do not allow them to be vaccinated against HPV.
Conclusion: The study noted the student’s ambiguity and misconceptions about HPV infection. Low severity and lack of knowledge about the vaccine emphasizes that identifying their current level of knowledge and the main source of information are essential to provide comprehensive and appropriate health education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:07:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92cb6de2376142bca0e80b97af58e865 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2588-3682 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:07:24Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-92cb6de2376142bca0e80b97af58e8652024-01-26T14:32:42ZengWest Asia Organization for Cancer PreventionAsian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care2588-36822019-03-0142273210.31557/apjcc.2019.4.2.27-32246Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine UseFatjona Kamberi0Eva Muhaj1Research Center of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of Vlore ”Ismail Qemali”, Vlore, Albania.Department of Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, University of Vlore ”Ismail Qemali”, Vlore, Albania.Objective: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted among young people of both sexes. It is also the main cause of cervical cancer. This study aimed at assessing students’ knowledge and health beliefs about HPV infection and the use of the vaccine. Methods: The sample of the cross-sectional study was 120 randomly selected nursing students from the Faculty of Public Health, University of Vlore “Ismail Qemali” Albania. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire based on the literature and Health Belief Model, was used for data collection in May 2017. The questionnaire included assessment questions for students’ knowledge and health beliefs about HPV and vaccine use. Also, questions about socio-demographic characteristics were included. Data analysis included the calculation of averages, frequencies, and confidence intervals. P values ≤0.05 were accepted as statistically significant. Result: Mean age 20.3±2.2 years, 92.44 % of students were female. 65.83% of students know that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and a vaccine is available to prevent it. Ambiguities and uncertainties exist in regard to screening with Pap test after vaccination. Perceived benefits are high for 50.83% of students. Perceived severity appeared low as only 25% of students agree that they may be affected by HPV. Statistical association, p =0.0347 was found between perceived risk and the year of study. The parents’ role in vaccination against HPV have a strong statistical association, p=0.0058 with the year of study as only 8.33 % of students in the third year agree with the fact that that parents do not allow them to be vaccinated against HPV. Conclusion: The study noted the student’s ambiguity and misconceptions about HPV infection. Low severity and lack of knowledge about the vaccine emphasizes that identifying their current level of knowledge and the main source of information are essential to provide comprehensive and appropriate health education.http://www.waocp.com/journal/index.php/apjcc/article/view/246nursing students- hpv- vaccine- knowledge- health beliefs- health education |
| spellingShingle | Fatjona Kamberi Eva Muhaj Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care nursing students- hpv- vaccine- knowledge- health beliefs- health education |
| title | Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use |
| title_full | Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use |
| title_short | Knowledge and Health Beliefs of Nursing Students Toward Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine Use |
| title_sort | knowledge and health beliefs of nursing students toward human papilloma virus and vaccine use |
| topic | nursing students- hpv- vaccine- knowledge- health beliefs- health education |
| url | http://www.waocp.com/journal/index.php/apjcc/article/view/246 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fatjonakamberi knowledgeandhealthbeliefsofnursingstudentstowardhumanpapillomavirusandvaccineuse AT evamuhaj knowledgeandhealthbeliefsofnursingstudentstowardhumanpapillomavirusandvaccineuse |