ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students about human papilloma virus infection and its vaccines. This descriptive study was carried out at the School of Nursing of Gulhane Military Medical Academy between February 01, and March 10, 2010. The universe of the study consisted of 314 volunteered nursing students. A questionnaire form and HPV knowledge evaluation form developed by the researchers were used for data collection. Only 55.7% and 54.8% of the participants stated that they had heard about HPV and its vaccines previously, respectively. Mean knowledge scores in the first, second, third and fourth class nursing students were 2.80±1.08, 3.66±1.22, 5.20±0.87, 6.42±1.37, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the classes of the students in terms of mean knowledge scores. Twenty eight percent and 61.1% of the nursing students stated that they wished to be vaccinated, and were hesitant about HPV vaccination, respectively. Eighty six point seven percent of the students who did not want to be vaccinated stated that they did not want as they did not have enough information about HPV vaccines. Including more data about HPV, cervical cancer, prevention ways and associated strategies into the curriculums of both pregraduate and postgraduate education would contribute to both the nurses and nursing students to have more current information about this issue.