Survey of knowledge about HPV, cervical cancer, and awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening and prevention among nursing and medical technology students at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in 2023

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a prevalent type of cancer in women (ranking 4th in the world, 7th in Vietnam), primarily caused by high-risk HPV types. Nursing-Medical Technology students are future healthcare professionals who are essential in raising public awareness about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening testing. Objectives: To assess knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer and awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening and prevention among Nursing and Medical Technology students at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in 2023. Methods: An online cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from the first-year to the fourth-year students of the Nursing and Medical Technology Department at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine. Results: 421 students took part in the study. The mean score of students about HPV, cervical cancer, and cervical cancer screening and prevention was 23.76 ± 8.87 out of 50. 94.8% of students are aware of the necessity of cervical cancer screening. 51.8% of the students provided incorrect answers about the possibility of HPV infection in men. Among 400 students who already known about the HPV vaccine, 115 students (28.7%) have taken the vaccine, and 285 students citing the high cost of the vaccine as a deterrent. Conclusions: Nursing-Medical Technology students had a good awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening and prevention, but their knowledge about HPV, cervical cancer, and their rates of vaccination were low. It is necessary to have effective awareness programs for students about HPV, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination from their first year of study in university. DOI: 10.59715/pntjmp.3.2.8