Department of Medical Oncology, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Galata University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Aug 30;103(35):e39495. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000039495.
Health literacy (HL) level is related to promotion of health, improved health behaviors, and early diagnosis of diseases, as well as the appropriate use of health services. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the primary method of protection against cervical cancer and recommended for women aged 9 to 27. This study aims to assess the university students' knowledge about HPV and the association between HL and HPV vaccination. In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, an electronic survey was used. Demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the participants were questioned. HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS) and Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32) were used to evaluate HPV knowledge and HL. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS version 26. A total of 361 university students (74% women), aged 21.98 ± 4.72 years, were included in the study. About 52% of the participants were health sciences students. The total THLS-32 score was 34.68 ± 9.37 (95% CI = 33.71-35.65), and the total adequate/excellent HL level was 51%. The mean HPV-KS score of the participants was 10.28 ± 8.15 (95% CI = 9.44-11.12) of a possible 35. Health sciences students had higher rates of HPV awareness (78% vs 65%; P = .007). General HPV knowledge level was significantly better among women (P < .001), >20 years (P = .002), and those with a family history of cancer (P < .001) and significantly lower among students at prep or first year of school (P < .001). There was a weak, positive relation between THLS-32 and HPV-KS score (R = 0.136; P = .01). Participants with higher levels of HPV knowledge (P = .034) and total HPV-KS score (P = .025) were statistically significantly higher in students with adequate/excellent HL. Our results reveal that knowledge about HPV vaccination is closely related to HL levels. Educational interventions on HL may be considered to increase HPV vaccination rates.
健康素养水平与促进健康、改善健康行为和疾病的早期诊断以及适当利用卫生服务有关。人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗接种是预防宫颈癌的主要方法，建议 9 至 27 岁的女性接种。本研究旨在评估大学生对 HPV 的知识以及健康素养与 HPV 疫苗接种之间的关系。在这项横断面和描述性研究中，使用了电子调查。询问了参与者的人口统计学特征和人体测量学测量值。使用 HPV 知识量表（HPV-KS）和土耳其健康素养量表（THLS-32）评估 HPV 知识和健康素养。使用 SPSS 版本 26 进行统计分析。共纳入 361 名大学生（74%为女性），年龄 21.98±4.72 岁，其中 52%为卫生科学专业学生。THLS-32 总分 34.68±9.37（95%CI=33.71-35.65），总适当/优秀健康素养水平为 51%。参与者的 HPV-KS 平均得分为 10.28±8.15（95%CI=9.44-11.12），满分为 35。卫生科学专业学生 HPV 意识率较高（78%比 65%；P=0.007）。女性的一般 HPV 知识水平显著较高（P<0.001），年龄>20 岁（P=0.002），有癌症家族史（P<0.001），而预科或一年级学生的 HPV 知识水平显著较低（P<0.001）。THLS-32 与 HPV-KS 评分呈弱正相关（R=0.136；P=0.01）。HPV 知识水平较高（P=0.034）和 HPV-KS 总分较高（P=0.025）的参与者在具有适当/优秀健康素养的学生中统计学上更高。我们的研究结果表明，HPV 疫苗接种知识与健康素养水平密切相关。可能需要开展关于健康素养的教育干预，以提高 HPV 疫苗接种率。
