K S Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA) and NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India.
Department of Microbiology, K S Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA) and NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India.
Womens Health (Lond). 2021 Jan-Dec;17:17455065211055304. doi: 10.1177/17455065211055304.
Safe and effective human papillomavirus vaccines are available against cervical cancer and other human papillomavirus-associated diseases. Vaccine uptake is low in India given lack of universal vaccination programme. This exploratory study describes the medical, dental and nursing undergraduate student perspectives about human papillomavirus and intentions to receive the vaccine.
Using a cross-sectional, explorative study design, we conducted two focus group discussions among a convenience sample of male (n = 11) and female (n = 9) student group aged ⩾18 years, respectively, at a medical college in South India. The focus group discussion sessions were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis.
Over half of the students showed adequate knowledge of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus. Medical students had much in-depth knowledge of cervical cancer, vaccine cost and its side effects compared to dental and nursing students. Human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge was relatively less among males compared to females; most male participants were unaware of the availability of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Intention to receive the vaccine was higher among females than males. All the participants had positive attitude in creating awareness in the community and making the vaccine cost-effective. Cultural concerns and high vaccine cost were cited major barriers for vaccine uptake. Suggestion of physician recommendation in promotion of human papillomavirus vaccine uptake was an emerging theme.
Educating male students and those enrolled in dental and nursing courses about human papillomavirus vaccine, addressing cultural concerns and advocating provider recommendation for promoting vaccine uptake are potential strategies to improve future human papillomavirus vaccine intent among students and recommendations to patients in their role as future healthcare provider.
目前已有针对宫颈癌和其他人乳头瘤病毒相关疾病的安全有效的人乳头瘤病毒疫苗。由于缺乏普遍的疫苗接种计划，印度的疫苗接种率很低。本探索性研究描述了医学生、牙科学生和护理学生对人乳头瘤病毒的看法以及接种疫苗的意愿。
采用横断面探索性研究设计，我们在印度南部一所医学院对年龄均 ⩾18 岁的男性（n=11）和女性（n=9）学生群体进行了两次焦点小组讨论。使用主题内容分析法对焦点小组讨论记录进行转录和分析。
超过一半的学生对宫颈癌和人乳头瘤病毒有足够的了解。与牙科和护理学生相比，医学生对宫颈癌、疫苗成本及其副作用有更深入的了解。与女性相比，男性对人乳头瘤病毒疫苗的了解相对较少；大多数男性参与者不知道人乳头瘤病毒疫苗的可及性。与男性相比，女性接种疫苗的意愿更高。所有参与者都对在社区中提高认识和降低疫苗成本持积极态度。文化问题和高昂的疫苗成本是接种疫苗的主要障碍。建议医生在推广人乳头瘤病毒疫苗接种方面的推荐是提高未来学生接种人乳头瘤病毒疫苗意愿的潜在策略，以及作为未来医疗保健提供者向患者推荐疫苗的建议。
向男性学生和牙科学生和护理学生群体教育人乳头瘤病毒疫苗，解决文化问题并倡导提供者推荐以促进疫苗接种，是提高未来学生和患者对疫苗接种意愿的潜在策略。
