Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
- The first questionnaire was self-applied to 918 parents of pupils in the 6th–8th grades and it consisted in 34 questions [2]. Three Middle Schools from Târgu Mureş City were randomly selected and had a total of 1180 the 6th–8th graders, representing approximately 10.0% of the 6th–8th graders in the city. The questionnaire included 34 questions.
- The second questionnaire was self-administered to 290 medical students in the 1st and 232 in the 6th year at the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology ‘George Emil Palade’ of Târgu Mureş and it included 55 questions [18]. They were evaluated comparatively in order to establish the difference in knowledge between the two groups.
- The third questionnaire was sent online to 1411 doctors from three different medical specialties: 1344 general practitioners, 42 pediatricians and 25 obstetricians/gynecologists. Only 640 responded: 580 general practitioners, 39 pediatricians and 21 gynecologists, with an overall response rate of 43.1% for general practitioners, 92.8% for pediatricians and 84% for gynecologists. It included 38 questions [19].
- The fourth questionnaire was distributed among 654 highschool students in the 11th–12th grades from two highschools in Făgăraș City. The questionnaires were partly different among boys and girls and they included 22 and 19 questions, respectively.
- The fifth questionnaire consisted in 29 questions and it was self-administered to 187 girls in the 11th–12th grades and their mothers. Three High Schools were randomly chosen, two of which from Târgu Mureș and one from Miercurea Ciuc.
Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Level of Knowledge
3.2. Information Sources
4. Discussion
5. Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Questions | Answers | Survey 1 Parents No = 918 | Survey 2 Students No = 522 | Survey 3 Doctors No = 640 | Survey 4 Boys No = 354 | Survey 4 + 5 Girls No = 487 | Survey 5 Mothers No = 187 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Have you ever heard of HPV infection (human papilloma virus)? |
| 85.8 | 89.7 | 100.0 | 70.4 | 74.3 | 82.8 |
| 14.2 | 10.3 | 0.0 | 29.6 | 25.7 | 17.2 | |
How would you describe your level of knowledge on HPV infection? |
| 11.1 | 12.6 | 0.9 | 15.6 | 24.8 | 14.9 |
| 26.0 | 20.9 | 15.2 | 28.5 | 32.4 | 17.2 | |
| 31.5 | 30.1 | 47.3 | 34.2 | 18.1 | 35.6 | |
| 24.4 | 28.9 | 32.1 | 11.9 | 21.0 | 24.1 | |
| 7.0 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 9.8 | 3.7 | 8.2 | |
How would you describe your level of knowledge on HPV vaccination? |
| 14.8 | 20.5 | 5.4 | 20.2 | 31.4 | 17.2 |
| 31.7 | 32.2 | 22.3 | 33.4 | 45.7 | 33.3 | |
| 30.6 | 27.0 | 44.6 | 25.7 | 16.2 | 24.1 | |
| 18.4 | 15.5 | 24.1 | 15.3 | 4.8 | 19.5 | |
| 4.5 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 5.9 | |
Which do you consider to be the optimal age for HPV vaccine administration? |
| 8.1 | 9.0 | 17.0 | 19.0 | 5.8 | 6.9 |
| 36.5 | 69.0 | 72.3 | 30.9 | 21.0 | 24.1 | |
| 6.0 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 14.5 | 22.9 | 16.1 | |
| 44.5 | 14.2 | 0.9 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 50.6 | |
| 2.5 | 1.8 | 27.7 | 20.5 | 50.6 | 1.1 | |
| 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 | |
How do you think you can prevent HPV infection? |
| 37.0 | 68.1 | 70.5 | 14.1 | 29.5 | 39.8 |
| 48.1 | 63.7 | 86.6 | 40.1 | 49.5 | 52.3 | |
| 60.8 | 73.0 | 92.9 | 50.5 | 64.7 | 55.7 | |
| 74.6 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 6.5 | 4.76 | 3.4 | |
| 1.3 | 39.8 | 33.9 | 4.5 | 22.8 | 6.8 | |
| 64.5 | 18.9 | 30.4 | 11.9 | 8.57 | 11.4 | |
| 94.2 | 58.9 | 40.2 | 33.21 | 24.7 | 36.4 |
Questions | Answers | Survey 1 Parents No = 918 | Survey 2 Students No = 522 | Survey 3 Doctors No = 640 | Survey 4 Boys No = 354 | Survey 4 + 5 Girls No = 487 | Survey 5 Mothers No = 187 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Which are your main sources of information on HPV infection? |
| 39.1 | 53.0 | 31.3 | 9.7 | 24.7 | 33.0 |
| 3.0 | 10.1 | NA | 15.3 | 17.2 | 4.5 | |
| 11.7 | 8.0 | NA | 16.8 | 7.6 | 6.8 | |
| 22.0 | 31.9 | 61.6 | 33.4 | 15.2 | 40.9 | |
| 32.4 | 17.6 | 29.5 | 0.74 | 4.76 | 13.6 | |
| 42.9 | 47.4 | 46.4 | 58.6 | 72.3 | 55.7 | |
In your opinion, who do you think is most qualified to give most information on HPV infection and vaccination? |
| 85.5 | 90.4 | 61.4 | 49.1 | 54.7 | 44.5 |
| 5.1 | 29.6 | 37.5 | 14.3 | 16.2 | 17.3 | |
| 0.9 | 43.8 | 15.6 | 15.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | |
| 15.8 | 33.3 | 52.6 | 38.4 | 40.2 | 38.2 | |
| 17.6 | 6.7 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 14.6 | 17.3 | |
| 22.5 | 18.9 | 6.4 | 28.6 | 12.3 | 8.3 | |
Have you received any information on HPV infection and vaccination from your general practitioner or HPV specialist? |
| 46.2 | 32.3 | NA | 9.6 | 13.3 | 21.8 |
| 53.8 | 67.7 | 90.4 | 86.7 | 78.2 | ||
Have you requested any information on HPV infection and vaccination from your general practitioner or HPV specialist? |
| 26.4 | 11.9 | NA | 13.7 | 6.7 | 18.4 |
| 73.6 | 88.1 | 86.3 | 93.3 | 81.6 |
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Voidăzan, T.S.; Budianu, M.A.; Rozsnyai, F.F.; Kovacs, Z.; Uzun, C.C.; Neagu, N. Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 6939. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116939
Voidăzan TS, Budianu MA, Rozsnyai FF, Kovacs Z, Uzun CC, Neagu N. Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(11):6939. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116939
Chicago/Turabian StyleVoidăzan, Toader Septimiu, Mihaela Alexandra Budianu, Florin Francisc Rozsnyai, Zsolt Kovacs, Cosmina Cristina Uzun, and Nicoleta Neagu. 2022. "Assessing the Level of Knowledge, Beliefs and Acceptance of HPV Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Romania" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 11: 6939. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116939