Sarah Almazrou1, Basema Saddik2, Hoda Jradi1. 1. Community and Environmental Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2. Community and Environmental Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: bsaddik@sharjah.ac.ae.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is considered the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide, with a reported 570,000 incident cases documented each year. Infection with certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be associated with more than 99% of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection and most cases of cervical cancers; however the uptake of this vaccine remains low in Saudi Arabia. Physicians can play a vital role in providing their patients with objective information regarding the HPV vaccine, yet little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City (KAMC), Central Region, Saudi Arabia where data were collected through an online questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians. RESULTS: Most physicians (61%) displayed a good level of knowledge about cervical cancer; 94% were knowledgeable of the causative link between (HPV) infection and cervical cancer. Family medicine physicians had better knowledge regarding cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination than pediatricians (p=0.023). Physicians with >10 years of practice had better knowledge of cervical cancer than other respondents (p=0.041). 80% of the sample thought it was important for women to receive the HPV vaccine and 82% stated they would allow their daughters to be given the HPV vaccine. Lack of parental knowledge of the vaccine was significantly (p=0.034) associated with a lack of knowledge about HPV, and this was one of the most common barriers preventing recommendation of the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSION: With the increasing prevalence of HPV infections, better knowledge of HPV infection, HPV-related diseases, and the availability of HPV vaccinations from health professionals will assist with the implementation of effective prevention and treatment programmes.
BACKGROUND:Cervical cancer is considered the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide, with a reported 570,000 incident cases documented each year. Infection with certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be associated with more than 99% of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection and most cases of cervical cancers; however the uptake of this vaccine remains low in Saudi Arabia. Physicians can play a vital role in providing their patients with objective information regarding the HPV vaccine, yet little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City (KAMC), Central Region, Saudi Arabia where data were collected through an online questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians. RESULTS: Most physicians (61%) displayed a good level of knowledge about cervical cancer; 94% were knowledgeable of the causative link between (HPV) infection and cervical cancer. Family medicine physicians had better knowledge regarding cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination than pediatricians (p=0.023). Physicians with >10 years of practice had better knowledge of cervical cancer than other respondents (p=0.041). 80% of the sample thought it was important for women to receive the HPV vaccine and 82% stated they would allow their daughters to be given the HPV vaccine. Lack of parental knowledge of the vaccine was significantly (p=0.034) associated with a lack of knowledge about HPV, and this was one of the most common barriers preventing recommendation of the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSION: With the increasing prevalence of HPV infections, better knowledge of HPV infection, HPV-related diseases, and the availability of HPV vaccinations from health professionals will assist with the implementation of effective prevention and treatment programmes.
Authors: Syed Sameer Aga; Nusrath Yasmeen; Muhammad Anwar Khan; Alqassem Y Hakami; Abdullah Awadh; Israa Abdullah Malli Journal: J Educ Health Promot Date: 2022-04-28
Authors: Chester O Kolek; Sylvia A Opanga; Faith Okalebo; Alfred Birichi; Amanj Kurdi; Brian Godman; Johanna C Meyer Journal: Vaccines (Basel) Date: 2022-07-26