Poongodi Chellapandian1, Sindhura Myneni2, Divya Ravikumar2, Padmavathy Padmanaban2, Kavin Mozhi James3, Vahitha Mala Kunasekaran4, Rejili Grace Joy Manickaraj5, Christina Puthota Arokiasamy6, Poonguzhali Sivagananam3, Pandian Balu3, Udayakumari Meesala Chelladurai3, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan7, Gayathri Baluswamy2, Radhika Nalinakumari Sreekandan8, Devakumar Kamaraj9, Sumetha Suga Deiva Suga10, Malathi Kullappan11, Jenifer Mallavarapu Ambrose11, Sai Ravi Teja Kamineni12, Krishna Mohan Surapaneni13. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Panimalar College of Nursing, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 3. Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Panimalar College of Nursing, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 4. Department of Community Health Nursing, Panimalar College of Nursing, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 5. Department of Mental Health Nursing, Panimalar College of Nursing, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 6. Medical Records Department (MRD), Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 7. Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Velappanchavadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 077, India. 8. Departments of Clinical Skills and Simulation, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 9. Department of Pharmacology and Division of Clinical Research - Department of Research, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 10. Department of Microbiology, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 11. Department of Research, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 12. Department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. 13. Departments of Biochemistry, Clinical Skills and Simulation and Research, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 123, India. krishnamohan.surapaneni@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that cervical cancer is preventable and curable in the early stages, it still remains to be a major public health problem in India. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness regarding the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among health care professionals working in a tertiary care hospital in urban India. METHODS: To this aim, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 318 health care professionals working in tertiary hospitals across Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Our research group designed a structured questionnaire with 31 items to assess the knowledge and attitudes on cervical cancer, its prevention, and HPV vaccination. RESULTS: Among the 318 respondents, 90.6% were aware of cervical cancer, 83.3% were aware that PAP (Papanicolaou) smear test detects cervical cancer, and 86.2% of the respondents knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. 29.2% of the eligible respondents underwent the screening against cervical cancer, and 19.8% of the study participants were vaccinated for HPV. Only 34.9% know that the HPV vaccine could be given to boys. The most common reason for not being vaccinated against HPV was the lack of awareness. In our study, 77.2% of the respondents were willing to be vaccinated and recommend HPV vaccination to their family members. CONCLUSION: From this study, it was evident that there is a lack of awareness about HPV vaccination and its importance in preventing cervical cancer among healthcare professionals. Our finding clearly establishes the need to devise intervention programs to promote vaccination against HPV and periodical screening for cervical cancer among healthcare professionals.
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that cervical cancer is preventable and curable in the early stages, it still remains to be a major public health problem in India. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness regarding the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among health care professionals working in a tertiary care hospital in urban India. METHODS: To this aim, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 318 health care professionals working in tertiary hospitals across Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Our research group designed a structured questionnaire with 31 items to assess the knowledge and attitudes on cervical cancer, its prevention, and HPV vaccination. RESULTS: Among the 318 respondents, 90.6% were aware of cervical cancer, 83.3% were aware that PAP (Papanicolaou) smear test detects cervical cancer, and 86.2% of the respondents knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. 29.2% of the eligible respondents underwent the screening against cervical cancer, and 19.8% of the study participants were vaccinated for HPV. Only 34.9% know that the HPV vaccine could be given to boys. The most common reason for not being vaccinated against HPV was the lack of awareness. In our study, 77.2% of the respondents were willing to be vaccinated and recommend HPV vaccination to their family members. CONCLUSION: From this study, it was evident that there is a lack of awareness about HPV vaccination and its importance in preventing cervical cancer among healthcare professionals. Our finding clearly establishes the need to devise intervention programs to promote vaccination against HPV and periodical screening for cervical cancer among healthcare professionals.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cervical cancer; Prevention; Screening and human papillary tumour virus vaccination
Authors: Lauri E Markowitz; Eileen F Dunne; Mona Saraiya; Herschel W Lawson; Harrell Chesson; Elizabeth R Unger Journal: MMWR Recomm Rep Date: 2007-03-23
Authors: Marc Arbyn; Elisabete Weiderpass; Laia Bruni; Silvia de Sanjosé; Mona Saraiya; Jacques Ferlay; Freddie Bray Journal: Lancet Glob Health Date: 2019-12-04 Impact factor: 26.763