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Knowledge, Behaviors, and Attitudes About Human Papilloma Virus Among Nursing Students in Izmir, Turkey

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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted through sexual contact and can cause cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes about human papillomavirus (HPV) in nursing students in a baccalaureate program. This study was conducted with a sample of 624 students. Data were collected via questionnaires administered during the first class time. Students’ knowledge about HPV was high; 90.5% knew HPV can cause cervical cancer; 94.6% recognized it as a sexually transmitted disease. Although; 87.7% stated a vaccine is available to protect women from HPV, nearly all participants (98.1%) had not received HPV vaccination. Findings show students’ level of knowledge about HPV’s risk factors and modes of transmission were high. However, this knowledge did not translate into engagement in health related behaviors such as being vaccinated against HPV.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all of the study participants.

Author Contributions

HBY and DKG contributed to the planning and design of the study. HBY assembled the data and performed the statistical analysis. Both authors interpreted the data and assisted with revisions of the article, read, and approved the final article.

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Correspondence to Hatice Bal-Yılmaz.

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The author(s) received no financial support for the research.

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Bal-Yılmaz, H., Koniak-Griffin, D. Knowledge, Behaviors, and Attitudes About Human Papilloma Virus Among Nursing Students in Izmir, Turkey. J Canc Educ 33, 814–820 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-017-1163-1

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