Knowledge levels and community guidance of doctors working in family health centers on HPV screening and HPV vaccination

Abstract

AbstractAimOur aim is to evaluate the level of knowledge, compliance with the screening program, and tendency to inform patients of the doctors working in FHCs where HPV testing is performed within the scope of the cervical cancer screening program in our country.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was performed between June and September 2022 with 113 family physicians working in different FHCs in different provinces in Turkey. Questionnaires prepared by the researchers were delivered to family physicians via online platforms.ResultsWhen the different age groups were evaluated, in two of the 24 knowledge‐level questions (How many types of HPV are there? Can HPV infect men?) the rate of correct answers for participants under the age of 35 years was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.007; p = 0.032). With regard to professional experience, the group with fewer than 10 years of experience gave a statistically significant correct answer to two questions (How many types of HPV are there? Can HPV infect men?; p = 0.008; p = 0.037). It was observed that 107 (94.7%) of the 113 family physicians who participated in the survey recommended that their patients use condoms during intercourse, 110 (97.3%) recommended cervical cancer screening tests to patients who applied for another reason, 105 (92.9%) recommended the HPV vaccine to patients and their relatives and 60 (53.1%) recommended the HPV vaccine to patients who applied for another reason.ConclusionsThe success of HPV vaccination programs is directly related to the beliefs of health personnel and their recommendations to the general population.