QUANTITATIVE STUDY ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS REGARDING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) AND HPV VACCINATION IN GEORGIA

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a pervasive sexually transmitted infection (STI) with a significant global impact. Medical students are future healthcare providers who will be responsible for educating patients about HPV and recommending vaccination. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Medical Students regarding HPV and HPV vaccination. In this study, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected over a two-month period (May-June 2024). Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the data. Totally 202 filled questionnaires were used for this study. Despite being aware of HPV's risks, particularly in women, there was a notable lack of awareness about its link to other cancers in men and limited understanding of HPV prevention methods. A substantial proportion of participants expressed concerns about vaccine side effects and held misconceptions about its safety. The binary logistic regression analysis identified that knowledge of HPV-related health risks, especially in men, was a significant predictor of the intention to get vaccinated. The findings provide valuable insights into the knowledge and attitudes of medical students towards HPV and its vaccination in Tbilisi, Georgia.