Investigation of information, attitude and behavior of healthcare professionals about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening and hpv vaccine

Introduction and Aim: The most common genital infection in women worldwide is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is known to cause cervical cancer. Thanks to the pap smear test, asymptomatic preinvasive neoplasms and invasive cervical lesions can be detected at an early stage. Screening programs are very important to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and death rates from this cancer. HPV vaccine provides primary protection from cervical cancer. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of healthcare professionals (specialist doctor, assistant doctor, nurse, midwife) about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine. Material and Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional and descriptive study in which health care professionals working at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine were informed about the study and agreed to participate. A data form was applied to the people who agreed to participate in the study, in which sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, educational status, occupation, unit of work, duration in the profession), some occupational information, general information about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine were questioned. SPSS 26.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program was used for the statistical analysis of the data weobtained. Results: Of the 322 healthcare workers included in ourstudy, 179 (55.6%) were women. The meanage of the participants was 32.5±6.3 (min-max:21-57). Of the participants, 183 (56.8%) were married. As a professional title; 63 (19.6%) were specialists, 122 (37.9%) were assistant doctors and 137 (42.5%) were nurses/midwives. While 33% of the female participants stated that they did not have their gynecological check-ups; 63.1% stated that they had never had a papsmear test before. The frequency of having gynecological examinations according to the marital status, education level and occupation of the female participants was statistically significant (p<0.001, p=0.046, p=0.031, respectively). A statistical difference was found in the pap smear test status of female participants according to their marital status, the unit they work in and their smoking status (p<0.001, p=0.019, p<0.001, respectively). Only 5.6% of female participants had had the HPV vaccine. Of the female participants, 49.7% stated that they wanted to have HPV vaccine. Of the participants, 71.1% thought that the HPV vaccine should be included in the national vaccination program. The mean score of the participants from the suggestions about HPV infection and cervical cancer was 15.8±3.7 (min-max:0-22), the mean score they got from the suggestions about early diagnosis in cervical cancer, screening tests and HPV vaccine was 11.9±2.9 (min-max:0-17), also, when we evaluated their attitudes about cervical cancer, screening tests and HPV vaccine, the mean score they got was calculated as 14.6±4 (min-max:2-20). A statistical difference was found between the scores of the participants according to their educational status (p<0.001). Conclusion: The level of knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, screening methods and HPV vaccine of healthcare professionals working at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine increased as the level of education increased. However, the rates of regular gynecological check-ups, participation in screening tests and HPV vaccination of female health workers were quite low. Healthcare professionals should be educated about cervical cancer, screening tests and HPV vaccine in a more comprehensive way, so that they can protect themselves and provide guidance to all women in this regard. KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer, HPV vaccine, Papsmear test, Healthcare workers