Awareness,knowledge and attitudes related to HPV infection and vaccine among non-obstetrician-gynecologist healthcare providers

Objective: this study was designed to evaluate the awareness,knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers related to hpv infection and vaccine. material and methods: a total of 311 healthcare providers working in specialties other than obstetrics and gynecology at the dr. lutfi kirdar kartal education and research hospital as physicians (n=142) or non-physician healthcare providers (n=169) were included in the present study. a questionnaire developed by researchers based on literature and including items concerning socio-demographic features,awareness of hpv infection and vaccine,attitudes related to hpv vaccine and regular gynecological controls and knowledge about hpv infection was applied to participants via a face to face interview method. each correct answer was scored as one to decide the level of knowledge and awareness. results: the frequency of parenthood was lower and the ratio of males was higher in the physician group compared to the non-physician group. awareness of virus mediated cancer (p=0.01),human papilloma virus (p=0.0001),cervical cancer,hpv vaccine,and types of hpv vaccine was significantly higher in the physician group. while consent levels for vaccine administration for themselves were similar for physician and non-physician subjects,the frequency of subjects favoring vaccine administration for their offspring was significantly higher among physicians (p<0.001 for daughters,p<0.05 for sons). hpv-related level of knowledge in the physicians was significantly higher when compared to the non-physician staff (p<0.001). conclusion: physicians were more competent regarding the relation of hpv infection to cervical cancer and more aware of the presence and types of hpv vaccines which may lead to a higher degree of willingness for vaccination when compared with non-physician healthcare providers.