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Solis-Torres N, Braverman-Diaz I, Rivera-Morales LA, Perez-Sanchez JJ, Perez-Bravo VS, Neris-Sanchez AJ, Vera A, Diaz-Algorri Y. Medical students' knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccine and head and neck cancer. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2344248. [PMID: 38659106 PMCID: PMC11057669 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2344248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that significantly affects the population worldwide. HPV preventive methods include vaccination, prophylactics, and education. Different types of cancers associated with HPV usually take years or decades to develop after infections, such as Head and Neck Cancer(HNC). Therefore, HPV prevention can be considered cancer prevention. A sample of medical students in Puerto Rico was evaluated to assess their knowledge about HPV, HPV vaccine, and HNC through two previously validated online questionnaires composed of 38 dichotomized questions, we measured HPV, HPV vaccination(HPVK), and HNC knowledge (HNCK). Out of 104 students surveyed, the mean HPVK score obtained was 20.07/26, SD = 3.86, while the mean score for HNCK was 6.37/12, SD = 1.78. Bidirectional stepwise regression showed study year and HPV Vaccine name had been the most influential variables on HPVK and HNCK. MS1 participants scored lower than MS2-MS4 participants, with no significant difference between MS2-MS4 scores. The results reveal knowledge gaps in HPV/HPV Vaccine and HNC among surveyed medical students. Our findings also suggest an association between knowledge of personal vaccination status, self-perceived risk, and how uncertainty in these factors may affect the medical students' understanding of HPV, HPV vaccination, and associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isardo Braverman-Diaz
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Luis A. Rivera-Morales
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Jose J. Perez-Sanchez
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Valeria S. Perez-Bravo
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Angel J. Neris-Sanchez
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Alexis Vera
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
| | - Yaritza Diaz-Algorri
- Master of Public Health Program, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico
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Horvat I, Lončar-Brzak B, Andabak Rogulj A, Cigić L, Pezelj Ribarić S, Sikora M, Vidović-Juras D. How Much Do We Know about Oral Cancer?-An Online Survey. Dent J (Basel) 2023; 11:268. [PMID: 38132406 PMCID: PMC10743054 DOI: 10.3390/dj11120268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oral cancer (OC) is a disease with a high mortality rate due to its late recognition. Since the oral cavity is easily accessible for visual inspection, enabling early diagnosis, the education of healthcare workers about preventive oral examinations is critical. This research aimed to assess the level of participants' OC knowledge, as well as to raise awareness about this diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The research was conducted as an online survey among students of dental medicine, students of medicine, doctors of dental medicine and doctors of medicine. The questionnaire was designed solely for the purpose of this study and consisted of 29 questions. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of general questions about the participants, whereas the questions in the second part addressed their knowledge and attitudes towards OC. RESULTS The surveyed population comprised of 140 dental students, 105 medical students, 159 doctors of dental medicine and 100 medical doctors. The level of knowledge about OC among the participants is not yet satisfactory. The group of dental medicine students scored highest, while medical doctors showed the weakest knowledge. CONCLUSION Additional education about OC for doctors of dental medicine and medical doctors is needed. This step will improve prevention and increase chances for early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Horvat
- Private Dental Clinic Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Božana Lončar-Brzak
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (B.L.-B.)
- Croatian Society for Oral Medicine and Pathology, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Association of Hospital Dentistry/Special Care Dentistry, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Andabak Rogulj
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (B.L.-B.)
- Croatian Society for Oral Medicine and Pathology, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Association of Hospital Dentistry/Special Care Dentistry, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Oral Diseases, University Dental Clinic, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Livia Cigić
- Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Sonja Pezelj Ribarić
- Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Rijeka, Krešimirova 40, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Crkvena 21, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
- Clinic of Dental Medicine, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Krešimirova 40, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Miroslav Sikora
- School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Danica Vidović-Juras
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (B.L.-B.)
- Croatian Society for Oral Medicine and Pathology, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Association of Hospital Dentistry/Special Care Dentistry, Croatian Medical Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Oral Diseases, University Dental Clinic, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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