Assessment of knowledge about human papillomavirus among nursing college students

Abstract Objective: To assess undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge about the human papillomavirus. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study. A total of 264 undergraduate nursing students from a higher education institution in the interior of the state of São Paulo participated in the study. Data collection was conducted between August and December 2022 with the use of two instruments: a sociodemographic and lifestyle questionnaire, and a questionnaire measuring knowledge of the human papillomavirus. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and appropriate statistical tests were applied, adopting a significance level of 5% (p=0.05). Results: Gaps in knowledge about the virus have been found, including factors on symptoms, transmission, treatment, and vaccination. Students in their final years who had already taken the women’s health course covering aspects of the human papillomavirus obtained a higher average of correct answers, reaching 76.1%. However, the overall average was 60.8%. Conclusion: Students in the last years performed reasonably well on the HPV knowledge questionnaire. A gradual inclusion of all aspects and information about the human papillomavirus in Higher Education Institutions is suggested, starting in the first years of the courses in an interdisciplinary manner, addressing its implications for health, incidence, aggravating factors, population data and complexities in an integrated manner. These topics can be explored later in detail, in a more comprehensive and in-depth manner, covering aspects such as symptoms, prevention, diagnosis and treatments.