OBJECTIVE: To assess General Pratictioner's (GPs) knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and prevention. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A semi-structured survey was conducted from November to December 2013 among Italian GPs. Descriptive and univariate analyses were carried out. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: 938 GPs were included in the study. 15% participated in continuing medical education courses focusing on HPV. GPs identified as HPV transmission routes: sexual (100%), cutaneous (15%), transplacental (13%), haematic (9%) and by air (2%); they considered HPV-related diseases: cervical (98%), vulvar and vaginal (42%), anal (39%), penile (38%) and oral (38%) cancer, genital warts (79%) and respiratory papillomatosis (12%). They knew HPV vaccination is to prevent HPV-associated cancer (60%), in particular cervical cancer (35%), genital warts (3%) and sexually transmitted diseases (2%). A total of 73% were aware of the existence of both available vaccines, 69% believed that immunization target population should be females before initiation of sexual activity, 87% knew the age of vaccine administration. No significant difference in knowledge was retrieved by age, gender, level of education or region of origin. CONCLUSION: We report a lack of knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination in GPs. GPs have a key role in the Italian health system. Although 12-year old patients are a small percentage of their patients, it is of fundamental importance to promote medical education and training among GPs in order to meet HPV coverage targets and control HPV-associated diseases.

[Human Papillomavirus infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of Italian general practitioners] / Signorelli, Carlo; Odone, Anna; Pezzetti, Federica; Spagnoli, Francesca; Visciarelli, Sara; Ferrari, Antonio; Camia, Paola; Latini, Chiara; Ciorba, Veronica; Agodi, Antonella; Barchitta, Martina; Scotti, Silvestro; Misericordia, Paolo; Pasquarella, Cesira Isabella Maria. - In: EPIDEMIOLOGIA E PREVENZIONE. - ISSN 1120-9763. - 38:6 Suppl 2(2014), pp. 88-92.

[Human Papillomavirus infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of Italian general practitioners]

SIGNORELLI, Carlo;ODONE, Anna;PEZZETTI, Federica;SPAGNOLI, Francesca;VISCIARELLI, Sara;FERRARI, Antonio;CAMIA, Paola;LATINI, Chiara;CIORBA, Veronica;PASQUARELLA, Cesira Isabella Maria
2014-01-01

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess General Pratictioner's (GPs) knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and prevention. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A semi-structured survey was conducted from November to December 2013 among Italian GPs. Descriptive and univariate analyses were carried out. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: 938 GPs were included in the study. 15% participated in continuing medical education courses focusing on HPV. GPs identified as HPV transmission routes: sexual (100%), cutaneous (15%), transplacental (13%), haematic (9%) and by air (2%); they considered HPV-related diseases: cervical (98%), vulvar and vaginal (42%), anal (39%), penile (38%) and oral (38%) cancer, genital warts (79%) and respiratory papillomatosis (12%). They knew HPV vaccination is to prevent HPV-associated cancer (60%), in particular cervical cancer (35%), genital warts (3%) and sexually transmitted diseases (2%). A total of 73% were aware of the existence of both available vaccines, 69% believed that immunization target population should be females before initiation of sexual activity, 87% knew the age of vaccine administration. No significant difference in knowledge was retrieved by age, gender, level of education or region of origin. CONCLUSION: We report a lack of knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination in GPs. GPs have a key role in the Italian health system. Although 12-year old patients are a small percentage of their patients, it is of fundamental importance to promote medical education and training among GPs in order to meet HPV coverage targets and control HPV-associated diseases.
2014
[Human Papillomavirus infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of Italian general practitioners] / Signorelli, Carlo; Odone, Anna; Pezzetti, Federica; Spagnoli, Francesca; Visciarelli, Sara; Ferrari, Antonio; Camia, Paola; Latini, Chiara; Ciorba, Veronica; Agodi, Antonella; Barchitta, Martina; Scotti, Silvestro; Misericordia, Paolo; Pasquarella, Cesira Isabella Maria. - In: EPIDEMIOLOGIA E PREVENZIONE. - ISSN 1120-9763. - 38:6 Suppl 2(2014), pp. 88-92.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2799111
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