Evaluation of Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Its Oral Health Implications: A Comparative Study of Polish Medical and Dental Students

<b>Background:</b> Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus belonging to the <i>Papillomaviridae</i> family. Infection may be asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, or clinically evident. It is mostly transmitted through sexual activity. It is estimated that approximately half of sexually active individuals will be infected with HPV, and among women over 50, this percentage increases to 80%. The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness among medical and dental students regarding the impact of HPV infection on oral health. <b>Materials and methods:</b> This was a prospective study of 562 Polish medical and dental students. The questionnaire was originally designed based on the available literature and consisted of two sections: demographic questions and detailed questions about HPV and its impact on oral health. The data were analyzed using Statistica v. 13.3. All tests were considered statistically significant at <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05. <b>Results:</b> After excluding incomplete questionnaires, 541 remained and were included in the analysis. The medical students achieved a significantly higher average score compared to the dental students (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The students of higher years of studies were more knowledgeable. This tendency was observed both among all respondents together and among the medical and dentistry students separately. <b>Conclusions:</b> The medical students demonstrated a significantly higher level of knowledge on the discussed topic. However, both groups provided correct answers at a relatively unsatisfactory level because the overall value of the results obtained was below 60%. By the end of their education, the students in both fields demonstrated improved knowledge. The dental students gave an average of 74% correct answers, while the medical students achieved 73%. Therefore, the quality of university education regarding the relationship between HPV infection and oral lesions should be improved.