Identification of the Knowledge Level of Students Receiving Health Education About the Human Papilloma Virus, Screening Tests, and Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination

This study aims to identify the knowledge level of students receiving health education about the human papilloma virus, screening tests, and human papilloma virus vaccination. The present study was designed as a descriptive study. It was conducted in the Nursing department and First and Emergency Aid programs in a city in the Eastern part of Turkey between November and December 2019. The sample of the study included 312 students who volunteered to participate in the study. The data collection tools used were the Socio-demographic Form and the Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale. The students' Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale total mean score was 5.86 +/- 6.40. The HPV knowledge Scale total score, the General HPV Knowledge sub-scale, and the General HPV Vaccination Knowledge subs-scale mean scores were found to be significantly higher in women, in those who were enrolled in 3rd year, and in those who were knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer. The HPV screening Test Knowledge sub-scale mean score was found to be significantly higher in those who were enrolled in 3rd year and who were knowledgeable about cervical cancer (p < 0.05). The results showed that students' knowledge levels about HPV were not sufficient, and variables such as gender, class level, and knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer were found to affect the knowledge level about HPV, screening tests, and vaccination. It is recommended that similar studies should be conducted in larger groups, and initiations to increase the knowledge levels of students should be planned.