scholarly journals Dental Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Human Papillomavirus Prevention

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 888
Author(s):  
Marjorie Wright ◽  
Vanessa Pazdernik ◽  
Corey Luebbering ◽  
Joan M. Davis

The purpose of the current study was to assess knowledge and attitudes about human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) prevention in first-year through fourth-year dental students. Methods: In this cross-sectional quantitative study, surveys assessed knowledge and attitudes about HPV, HPV-related OPC, and HPV vaccination of incoming first-year dental students (D1), outgoing first- and second-year dental students (D1–D2), and outgoing third- and fourth-year dental students (D3–D4). After completing a 40-item pre-training knowledge and attitude assessment survey, a one-time, one-hour national HPV training session was conducted. An 8-item attitudinal post-survey was completed after training. Results: Of 173 participants (75.9% response rate), over 85% did not know that the rate of HPV is not highest among women in their 30s, and only 11% to 28% knew that smoking-associated OPC is more deadly than HPV-associated OPC. While participants overall expressed willingness to administer the HPV vaccine, the willingness of dental students to do so in their future practice tapered off progressively through dental school year categories (p < 0.001). Among outgoing D1–D4 students, the one-hour HPV training increased participants’ self-perceived ability to describe the burden of HPV disease, discuss the importance of HPV vaccination for cancer prevention, and provide needed HPV vaccination information to parents (all p ≤ 0.004). Conclusions: Understanding deficits in dental student knowledge and attitudes across the 4 years of dental school may help dental educators better understand the timing and content needed for effective HPV training in the dental school curriculum to reduce HPV-associated OPC prevalence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Steven Kent Mann ◽  
Karl Kingsley

Introduction: The recent development of a vaccine that is highly effective against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been met with widespread clinical and public health professional acceptance. However, social and societal barriers to vaccination may hamper public health efforts to prevent HPV-mediated diseases. Although a few studies have evaluated knowledge or awareness of HPV vaccination among dentists or dental educators, few studies have evaluated the acceptance, knowledge and awareness of HPV vaccination among dental students and post-graduate dental residents. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate survey responses regarding acceptance, knowledge and awareness of HPV vaccination among dental students and post-graduate dental residents. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of a previously administered and collected questionnaire. The original protocol was reviewed by the UNLV Biomedical Institutional Research Board (IRB) and was deemed excluded from IRB review (OPRS#0811-2911). Results: Two hundred and ninety-three (N = 293) dental student and forty-one (N = 41) post-graduate dental resident questionnaires were available for a total sample size of N = 334. In brief, although the majority of dental students and residents agreed that vaccines are safe and effective, less than half of dental students (37.5%) or dental residents (48.7%) had discussed the HPV vaccine with a physician or had received the vaccine themselves. In addition, a significant percentage of dental students and residents felt they did not have enough information regarding the HPV vaccine (25.6% and 26.8%, respectively) or had significant concerns about the side effects (17.1%). Conclusions: The data suggest more specific information in dental school microbiology and immunology courses might be needed to increase awareness and knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, including the HPV vaccine. This enhanced education might also serve as a curricular focal point to answer questions regarding vaccine-related side effects and provide a mechanism for answering important questions regarding this vaccine.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e054728
Author(s):  
Jennifer Guse ◽  
Annabel Susan Weegen ◽  
Ines Heinen ◽  
Corinna Bergelt

ObjectivesTo investigate levels of distress, depression, anxiety, stress and perception of their current study situation during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate dental and medical students.DesignObservational, cross-sectional study including two consecutive surveys (May and July 2020).SettingA large medical school in Germany.ParticipantsAll first year dental and medical students were invited. 132 participating first year students (44 dental, 88 medical) from the first survey and 150 students (50 dental, 100 medical) from the second were included in our analyses.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMental burden (distress thermometer, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Perceived Stress Scale-4) and self-reported changes in mental health and perception of study situation during the COVID-19 pandemic (self-developed items) were compared. Open-ended questions were analysed by conventional content analyses.ResultsA considerable proportion of students (t1: May 2020: 84.1%; t2: July 2020: 77.3%) reported distress levels above cut-off. In July 2020, dental students reported significantly higher distress scores than medical students (dental: M=7.0, SD=2.3; medical: M=5.7; SD=2.1; p<0.001). More dental than medical students reported mild, moderate and severe levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. The majority stated that their mental health and study motivation had not changed during the pandemic. Logistic regression showed that being a dental student was significantly associated with a higher likelihood for serious worries regarding the study situation during COVID-19 at t1 (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.1 to 14.2). At t2 higher distress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood for experiencing serious worries (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5). Regarding current concerns related to the pandemic, students most frequently reported difficulties with self-regulated learning (15.2%), study-related worries and uncertainty (14.4%), missing feedback of students and lecturers (11.4%) and lack of practical training (9.8%).ConclusionThe results suggest that high mental burden and the lack of practical training among medical and dental students is an increasing problem, with a possibly even higher urgency in dental students. Tailored psychological and educational support offers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic might help them as they progress through (medical and) dental school.


2021 ◽  
pp. 48-50
Author(s):  
Harish Kancharla ◽  
Pawan Krishna Murti ◽  
D. Ashwani Lahari ◽  
S.S. Sandeep Kumar

Background: Identication of the expected wellsprings of stress is signicant in dental instruction program, as it offers freedom to take different measures to forestall pressure in the dental school climate. The purpose of the present study was to address various sources of stress among dental students during covid 19 pandemic and its relation with gender and year of the study. Materials and Methods: rd th A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted among 3 and 4 year students of a dental school. Questionnaire used in the study comprised the modied version of the questionnaire used in Dental Environmental Stress. A four-point Likert scale was used to record the responses from the subjects. A total of 180 subjects participated in the study. The collected data was statistically analyzed by descriptive statistics and Independent t test using SPPSS 21.0 version. Results: th Among the participants, 22% (40) were males and 78% (140) were females. 72 %( 130) were from 4 year while 28 %( rd 50%) were from 3 year. Majority of the study population were having fear of failing (64.7%), exam and grade stress (71.8%), stress for completion of clinical quota (71.2%), and stress for clinical set up (61.9%). Mean stress scores were signicantly related to gender of students. Conclusion: Prevalence of anticipated source of stress was high among dental student. This study highlight the need to implement a positive learning environment by employing strategies to combat the high levels of stress prevalent in dental schools.


Author(s):  
Concetta Paola Pelullo ◽  
Maria Rosaria Esposito ◽  
Gabriella Di Giuseppe

This cross-sectional study assessed nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes about Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination in Italy. The survey was conducted among a sample of 556 nursing students. Almost all reported that they had heard about HPV infection, while only 36.5% knew the risk factors of HPV infection and that this could be prevented by the HPV vaccine. Those who had heard about HPV infection during their degree program were more likely to know risk factors of HPV infection and that this could be prevented by the HPV vaccine. The majority of students (65.3%) reported that they would be willing to receive the HPV vaccine. Moreover, 91.7% of participants reported that they were willing, as future health care operators, to recommend the HPV vaccine to others. Those who knew risk factors of HPV infection and that this could be prevented by the HPV vaccine, and those who knew that cervical cancer could be prevented by the HPV vaccine expressed this positive attitude about willingness to recommend the HPV vaccine. These results highlight the need to supplement nursing students’ specific education, to improve their knowledge and awareness of HPV vaccination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Camille Frayna ◽  
Christoffer Devantier ◽  
Braden Harris ◽  
Karl Kingsley ◽  
Joshua M. Polanski

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) were developed to reduce or prevent many types of chronic illness, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Healthcare provider recommendations may be influenced by understanding of and adherence to the DGA, which may be incorporated into provider training, medical and dental clinical curricula—although few studies have evaluated adherence to the DGA among dental students. This approved retrospective study of voluntary student responses from a first-year dental school nutrition course included a short dietary and exercise survey administered as part of the DGA learning module. A total of N = 299 students completed the voluntary nutrition survey, yielding a response rate of 91.4%. Daily fruit and vegetable intake, dairy and whole grain servings among UNLV-SDM students were significantly lower than the DGA recommendations but higher than U.S. averages for 18–30-year-olds—although neither group met DGA recommendations. This study represents one of the first to evaluate the dietary intake of U.S. dental students for comparison with the DGA for positive health behaviors. These data demonstrate a lack of adherence to the DGA among highly educated dental students and the need for the curricular inclusion of diet and nutrition into the dental school curriculum.


2014 ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Duc Tam Lam ◽  
Vu Quoc Huy Nguyen

Backgroud: Cervical cancer is a common disease after breast cancer. That is caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) and now, we have HPV vaccin to prevent the disease with objectives: to determine rate of correct knowledge, attitudes and practice towards HPV vaccination against cervical cancer of mothers who have daughters aged 1 to 26 years old in An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city and to determine the relationship between correct knowledge and correct attitudes and correct behaviors towards vaccination against cervical cancer of these mothers. Materials and method: Cross-sectional, community survey on 410 mothers who are interviewed face to face by using a questionnaire. Results: The rate of correct knowledge, attitude and practice towards HPV vaccination against cervical cancer is 4.4%; 89.5%; 12.2%; respectively. There’s a correlation between correct knowledge and correct behaviors towards vaccination against cervical cancer among mothers (p<0.05), but no correlation between correct knowledge and correct attitudes. Conclusion: the rate of mothers who have correct knowledge and behaviors is relatively low but whose correct attitude is high. Therefore, may be they want to know more information about vaccination against cervical cancer so that it should have appropriate information-education-counseling and health care campaign to community. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, practice, vaccine, Human papillomavirus, cervical


BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Innocentia Ebu ◽  
Gifty Esinam Abotsi-Foli ◽  
Doreen Faakonam Gakpo

Abstract Background Nurses and midwives play important roles in educating the public on cervical cancer prevention strategies. Aim This study sought to assess nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in relation to their background characteristics. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study using questionnaires was conducted with a convenience sample of 318 female nurses and midwives, ages 20 to 59, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, chi-square tests, and Fisher’s exact tests. Results The results indicated that 41.5% (n = 132) of the participants had high levels of knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, and 17.6% (n = 56) of the respondents had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Reasons for receiving the HPV vaccination included advice from a colleague (12.9%, n = 41) and perceived threat of cervical cancer (11.7%, n = 37). Of the 262 respondents who had not been vaccinated, 24.45% (n = 78) strongly agreed and 28.0% (n = 89) agreed with the statement that there was limited information on HPV vaccination. Also, there were statistically significant associations between age (X2 = 23.746, p = 0.001), marital status (X2 = 14.758, p = 0.005), completed level of education (X2 = 21.692, p = 0.001), and duration of working at the hospital (X2 = 8.424, p = 0.038) and acceptance of HPV vaccination. Conclusions This study demonstrated gaps in knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and attitudes towards HPV vaccination, indicating the need for targeted measures to improve knowledge and attitudes. Also, measures to increase acceptance of HPV vaccination among nurses and midwives should consider their sociodemographic characteristics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Patricio Díaz-Narváez ◽  
Ana María Erazo Coronado ◽  
Jorge Luis Bilbao ◽  
Farith González ◽  
Mariela Padilla ◽  
...  

Introduction: The controversy over the presence of empathic decline within the course in students of medicine, dentistry and health sciences in general, has not fully been studied. This controversy could be partially solved if massive studies of empathy levels are made in similar cultural, social and economic contexts.Material and Methods: Empathy levels within the course were studied in eighteen dental schools from six countries in Latin America (2013). The mean of the empathy levels were used to study the behavior between first and fifth academic years. The values of empathy levels within the course were observed by applying the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, the Spanish version. All these studies were cross-sectional. The value of means observed, were subjected to regression studies and further adjustment curves were obtained and the coefficient of determination were calculated.Results: Six different models of behavior were observed, which found that five of them suffer empathic decline within the course, but with different final results: in some the decline persists until the fifth academic year and in others, this decline ‘recovers’ persistently until the fifth academic year. The sixth model is characterized by a constant and persistent increase of levels of empathy within the course until the last academic year.Discussion: There are six different models for the behavior of means of levels of empathy within the course evaluated by a common methodology in eighteen dental schools from six countries of Latin America. These findings support the existence of variability of empathic response and a comprehensive approach is needed to find the causes that give rise to this variability.Conclusion: In dental students of Latin America, there is variability in the behavior of the distribution in means between the academic years of the dentistry schools examined in this study.


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