Pamukkale University Medical Students’ Level of Knowledge about Importance of Genital Warts

Abstract

Aim: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Besides common genital warts, it is also associated with cervical, anal, penile, and oral cancers. It is important to increase the knowledge level of society to prevent the development of cervical cancer, which is an avoidable disease. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate Pamukkale University medical students’ knowledge level about the importance of genital warts and to increase their current knowledge. Material and Methods: A questionnaire composed of 30 closed-ended questions was fulfilled by medical students in the Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine. The questionnaire was applied by using Google Forms. The questions were asked for evaluating their knowledge on viral transmission, risky sexual behaviors, required measurements, HPV-related diseases, and vaccination in an informative manner (e.g., do you know that HPV can cause warts and/or malignant lesions on the skin, in the oral cavity, anal or vaginal canal and cervix uteri?). After completing the questionnaire, they were asked whether their knowledge was increased or not. Results: The study included 808 medical students. Most of the students (85%) stated that they knew about HPV and genital warts. Seventy percent of them knew the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer, also, 52.2% of the students (21.7% of the male students) knew that anal infections and malignancies were seen more common in men who have sex with men. Seventy-four percent of them had heard about the vaccine, mostly from school or classes (57.5%). Mostly, they approved being vaccinated (79.5%) and educated on sex-related issues in an age-dependent manner (97%) for themselves and their children. After completing the questionnaire, 75.4% out of the students who thought that they had known about HPV (85%) declared that their knowledge increased. Totally 90,1% of all students had increased knowledge at the end of the questionnaire, which was statistically significant (p:0.001). Conclusion: Although the knowledge of the medical students seems to be generally sufficient, it was seen that nearly half of them did not know about the vaccine and the relationship between HPV, cervical cancer, and other malignities. As a result, HPV and related malignant diseases, which are known inadequately even by medical students, continue to threaten public health. Thus, we think that education and vaccination should be encouraged so that individuals can have a chance to protect themselves, their partners, and their children from cervical cancer and other possible malignities.