Acceptability of primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer among medical students in west China
The study aimed to understand the knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine among medical students, and explore potential factors that influenced their acceptability.
METHODS:
We conducted a survey among medical students among six universities across west China using a validated questionnaire on knowledge and perceptions of HPV, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccine.
RESULTS:
We surveyed 1878 medical students aged 20.8 (standard deviation: 1.3) years. 67.9% were females, 95.3% were ethnic Han Chinese, and 43.8% majored in clinical medicine. 49% and 80% believed cervical cancer can be prevented by HPV vaccine and screening, respectively, while 60.2% and 71.2% would like to receive/advise HPV vaccine and screening. 35.4% thought HPV vaccine should be given to adolescents or young people aged 13-18 years. 41.9% stated women should start screening from 20 years, and 49.2% considered women should receive screening every year. The worry about complications (38.3% and 39.8%) and inadequate information (42.4% and 35.0%) were the mostly cited obstacles for receiving/advising HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. Females were more likely to accept HPV vaccine (OR, 1.86; 95% CI: 1.47-2.35) or cervical cancer screening (OR, 3.69; 95% CI: 2.88-4.74). Students who showed negative attitude towards premarital sex were less like to accept either HPV vaccine (OR, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.96) or screening (OR, 0.68; 0.47-0.10). Students with a higher level of related knowledge were much more willing to receive or advise vaccine (Ptrend<0.001) or screening (Ptrend<0.001). Nonclinical students showed lower acceptability of cervical screening compared to students in clinical medicine (OR, 0.74; 95% CI: 0.56-1.00).
CONCLUSIONS:
The acceptability of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening is low among medical students in west China. It is important to improve the knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer among medical students in order to supply well informed and trained health care providers.