Farazi Paraskevi A, Siahpush Mohammad, Michaud Tzeyu L, Kim Jungyoon, Muchena Chenai
College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984395 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Ave, Nicosia, Cyprus.
J Cancer Educ. 2019 Aug;34(4):685-690. doi: 10.1007/s13187-018-1356-2.
Cervical cancer is preventable; however, despite the existence of primary and secondary means of prevention, its incidence is still higher in certain socioeconomic groups and countries, suggesting gaps in cervical cancer prevention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of health sciences university students in Cyprus regarding HPV and cervical cancer in order to better guide the future development of educational programs to improve cervical cancer prevention. This was a cross-sectional study of 178 university health sciences students in Cyprus using a validated questionnaire on HPV and cervical cancer prevention. Analysis of the completed questionnaires revealed moderate levels of knowledge and awareness with an overall mean score of 23.32 out of 33 on HPV and 8.12 out of 13 on cervical cancer, a score of 9.25 out of 14 on HPV vaccines, and a score of 5.93 out of 9 on cervical cancer screening. Older students achieved higher scores compared to younger students (mean score of 6.76 for 18-22 years old, 9.44 for 23-28 years old, and 10.25 for 29-38 years old; p < 0.001). The study found several gaps in the students' knowledge and awareness on cervical cancer prevention. We suggest the design of education programs targeting this population possibly by incorporation of cervical cancer prevention education within students' curriculum to increase knowledge such that the spread of the virus is minimized and these health sciences students are prepared to educate their communities as part of their future practice in health professions.
宫颈癌是可预防的；然而，尽管存在一级和二级预防手段，但在某些社会经济群体和国家中，其发病率仍然较高，这表明宫颈癌预防存在差距。本研究的目的是评估塞浦路斯健康科学专业大学生对人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）和宫颈癌的知识与认识，以便更好地指导未来教育项目的开展，以改善宫颈癌预防工作。这是一项针对塞浦路斯178名健康科学专业大学生的横断面研究，使用了一份经过验证的关于HPV和宫颈癌预防的问卷。对完成的问卷进行分析后发现，学生们的知识和认识水平中等，HPV相关知识在33分中平均得分为23.32分，宫颈癌相关知识在13分中平均得分为8.12分，HPV疫苗相关知识在14分中平均得分为9.25分，宫颈癌筛查相关知识在9分中平均得分为5.93分。年龄较大的学生得分高于年龄较小的学生（18 - 22岁的学生平均得分为6.76分，23 - 28岁的学生平均得分为9.44分，29 - 38岁的学生平均得分为10.25分；p < 0.001）。该研究发现学生在宫颈癌预防知识和认识方面存在若干差距。我们建议针对这一人群设计教育项目，可能通过将宫颈癌预防教育纳入学生课程，以增加知识，从而尽量减少病毒传播，使这些健康科学专业的学生准备好在未来从事卫生专业工作时教育他们的社区。
