Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Willingness to Recommend Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination among Medical Students in Mysore, India

Less than one in five medical students (19%) felt susceptible to HPV infection.

“most did not feel susceptible to HPV”

• Also stated in: § Result · plain

  “Nonetheless, less than one in five students of both genders (19%) felt susceptible to HPV.”

72% of medical students believed that cervical cancer is preventable.

“The majority of students of both genders believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease (78%) and preventable (72%), that HPV is extremely harmful (64%), and that the HPV vaccination is safe (62%) and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (76%).”

Believing that men should get the HPV vaccine was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (63% vs 35%, p<0.001).

“that men should get the HPV vaccine (35% vs 63%, p<0.001)”

Female medical students were more likely than male medical students to believe that there is less risk in being vaccinated than having HPV infection (75% vs. 67%, p=0.017).

“Female students were also more likely to believe that there is less risk in being vaccinated than having HPV infection (75% vs. 67%, p=0.017)”

Believing that cervical cancer is preventable was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (88% vs 57%, p<0.001).

“believing that cervical cancer is preventable (57% vs 88%, p<0.001)”

Believing that HPV vaccination is helpful for preventing cervical cancer was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (93% vs 67%, p<0.001).

“and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (67% vs 93%, p<0.001)”

Favourable knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward HPV vaccination improved with years of medical study.

“Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs favourable toward HPV vaccination improved with years of study.”

• Also stated in: § Year of Medical Education · plain

  “Accurate knowledge and favourable attitudes and beliefs were significantly higher among students with more years of medical education for almost all questions.”

Male medical students were significantly more likely to believe that HPV vaccination could increase sexual activity and risky sexual behaviours.

“Male students were significantly more likely to believe that HPV vaccination could increase sexual activity and risky sexual behaviours.”

32% of 4th year medical students reported discomfort discussing adolescent sexuality with parents.

“32% of 4 th year students still reported discomfort discussing adolescent sexuality with parents”

64% of medical students believed that HPV is extremely harmful.

“The majority of students of both genders believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease (78%) and preventable (72%), that HPV is extremely harmful (64%), and that the HPV vaccination is safe (62%) and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (76%).”

Knowledge regarding HPV vaccination for preventing head and neck cancers was no higher among 4th year versus 1st year medical students.

“knowledge regarding HPV vaccination for preventing HNCs was no higher among 4th versus 1st year medical students.”

• Also stated in: § Year of Medical Education · plain

  “However, the proportion of students who believed that HPV vaccination would not prevent HNCs was lower among 1 st vs. 4 th year students (6% vs. 22%, p<0.001).”

• Also stated in: § Discussion · hedged

  “A majority of participants agreed that HPV vaccination could prevent cervical cancer but were less certain about its efficacy for the prevention of HNCs, this knowledge did not appear to improve with years of study.”

Female medical students were more likely than male medical students to report not wanting to be infected with HPV (85% vs. 76%, p=0.004).

“to report not wanting to be infected with HPV (85% vs. 76%, p=0.004)”

The proportion of medical students who reported that they would recommend giving the HPV vaccine to a 9-10 year old girl was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year students (49% vs 31%, p=0.002).

“Comparing 1 st vs. 4 th year students, the proportion of students who reported that they would recommend giving the HPV vaccine to a 9-10 year old girl was significantly higher with years of study (31% vs. 49%, p = 0.002)”

Male medical students were more likely than female medical students to believe that HPV vaccination can encourage youth to become sexually active (35% vs. 15%; p<0.001).

“Male students were more likely than female students to believe that HPV vaccination can encourage youth to become sexually active (35% vs. 15%; p<0.001).”

• Also stated in: § Year of Medical Education · plain

  “Male students were more likely than female students to believe that vaccinating young people against HPV will encourage them to become sexually active (35% vs. 15%, p<0.001)”

Male medical students were more likely than female medical students to believe that vaccinating young people against HPV will lead to risky sexual behaviour (25% vs. 15%, p<0.001).

“or lead to risky sexual behaviour (25% vs. 15%, p<0.001).”

There were no significant differences by gender for most domains of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward HPV vaccination and cancer prevention.

“There were no significant differences by gender for most domains.”

53% of medical students believed that men should get the HPV vaccine.

“and only 53% believed that men should get the HPV vaccine.”

Perceived susceptibility to HPV infection was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (37% vs 7%, p<0.001).

“Large significant differences between 1 st vs 4 th year medical students were observed for perceived susceptibility to HPV infection (7% vs 37%, p<0.001)”

40% of medical students were not ready to accept the HPV vaccination if offered to them today.

“40% were not ready to accept the HPV vaccination if offered to them today”

42% of 4th year medical students did not know how to bring up the topic of HPV vaccination with parents.

“42% of 4 th year students did not know how to bring up the topic of HPV vaccination with parents.”

Female medical students were more likely than male medical students to believe that information on HPV is helpful for deciding whether to be vaccinated (86% vs. 77%, p=0.002).

“to believe that information on HPV is helpful for deciding whether to be vaccinated (86% vs. 77%, p=0.002).”

The proportion of medical students who believed that HPV vaccination would not prevent head and neck cancers was lower among 1st year compared to 4th year students (6% vs. 22%, p<0.001).

“However, the proportion of students who believed that HPV vaccination would not prevent HNCs was lower among 1 st vs. 4 th year students (6% vs. 22%, p<0.001).”

Readiness to accept the HPV vaccine was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (71% vs 49%, p<0.001).

“and readiness to accept the HPV vaccine (49% vs 71%, p<0.001).”

76% of medical students believed that the HPV vaccination is helpful for preventing cervical cancer.

“The majority of students of both genders believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease (78%) and preventable (72%), that HPV is extremely harmful (64%), and that the HPV vaccination is safe (62%) and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (76%).”

Believing that HPV vaccination is safe was significantly higher among 4th year compared to 1st year medical students (81% vs 55%, p<0.001).

“that HPV vaccination is safe (55% vs 81%, p<0.001)”

62% of medical students believed that the HPV vaccination is safe.

“The majority of students of both genders believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease (78%) and preventable (72%), that HPV is extremely harmful (64%), and that the HPV vaccination is safe (62%) and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (76%).”

78% of medical students believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease.

“The majority of students of both genders believed that cervical cancer is a severe disease (78%) and preventable (72%), that HPV is extremely harmful (64%), and that the HPV vaccination is safe (62%) and helpful for preventing cervical cancer (76%).”

Female medical students were more likely than male medical students to be unsure whether HPV vaccination could prevent head and neck cancers (57% vs. 42%, p<0.001).

“female students were more likely than male students to be unsure (57% vs. 42%, p<0.001).”

The proportion of medical students responding that they were unsure declined with years of study.

“Additionally, the proportion of students responding that they were unsure declined with years of study indicating more confidence in responses.”

74% of medical students believed that accepting HPV vaccination is a good idea based on their existing knowledge.

“Although most (74%) believed that accepting HPV vaccination is a good idea based on their existing knowledge”

The responses are all self-reported, so the results are vulnerable to social desirability bias.

“Second, the responses are all self-reported, so the results are vulnerable to social desirability bias, with participants answering how they believe would be favourably viewed by investigators rather than how they truly believe or act.”

The questionnaire adapted from Maharajan et al. (2015) was validated for internal consistency by conducting a pilot study with 20 participants.

“The questionnaire adapted from Maharajan et al., (2015) was validated for internal consistency by conducting a pilot study with 20 participants.”

• cites [15]Not matched

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The findings of this study are consistent with existing studies demonstrating medical students' limited knowledge and misperceptions about HPV infection and vaccination in India, particularly at the start of medical school.

“These results are consistent with existing studies demonstrating medical students' limited knowledge and misperceptions about HPV infection and vaccination in India, particularly at the start of medical school.[19][20][21][22]”

• cites [19]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [20]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [21]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.