KNOWLEDGE OF HPV VACCINES AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG FULL-TIME SECOND-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CAN THO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with over 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 50% mortality rate in Asia. All women are at risk for cervical cancer, most often from 42 to 58 years old. However, we can prevent it by screening tests and the HPV vaccines (HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer). When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable (about 90-100%). As one of the directly involved people in the prevention and treatment of this disease in the future, a medical student needs to grasp the basic knowledge to properly advise patients about the benefits of HPV vaccination as well as perform cervical cancer screening tests according to different ages. Therefore, the topic "The knowledge of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening among full-time second-year medical students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy" was conducted to determine the acquainted rate of HPV vaccines and cervical screening. Objectives: to determinine the ratio of knowledge among students on HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening. Materials and methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design to assess full-time medical secondyear students’ knowledge. A pre-test questionnaire was administered to students. Research conducted from January 12^th, 2022 to July 1^st, 2022 including 234 students. Results: Participants were mainly students under the age of 20, accounting for 56%. Most students received information about HPV vaccination from the internet, accounting for 72.2%; from friends and relatives accounting for 66.7%, from hospitals and medical centers accounting for 31.5%. Research results show that the rate of well-informed about HPV vaccination was 67.9%; the rate of well-informed about cervical cancer screening was 8.2%. The rate of knowing the total injection dose is 3 doses accounting for 55.6%. Most students (90.2%) answered that cervical cancer can be screened; about 35.9% of students answered the age to start cervical cancer screening correctly. The percentage of students who knew the conditions to stop cervical cancer screening was 20.9%. Conclusion: The knowledge of HPV vaccines and cervical cancer screening among full-time second-year medical students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy was thoroughly knowledgeable.