Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward human papillomavirus infection among undergraduate pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia

Authors

  • Dr. Mohammad Daud Ali Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Yousif Hassan Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Ayaz Ahmad Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Sherihan Ahmad Ghosn Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Wasim Ahmad Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Esra’a Al-Abduljabbar Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Zahra Al-Madeh Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Maryam Al-Towilib Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.
  • Bashayer Al-Shatti Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.629636

Keywords:

Cervical cancer, HPV vaccine, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Knowledge, Pharmacy curriculum, Pharmacy training, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most widespread viral infections that affect the reproductive tract. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward HPV amongst pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective online survey-based study was conducted amongst all second year to final year students enrolled in the pharmacy programme.

Results: Female students exhibited better awareness and knowledge (87.2%) compared to male students (12.8%). The majority of respondents (92.8%) had heard about the risk of cervical cancer, with fewer respondents had heard about the HPV vaccine (35.0%). There was high ratification that vaccines help in preventing cervical cancer (64.80%), which is a good response.

Conclusion: The pharmacy students showed an average knowledge regarding HPV infection and HPV vaccination. Considerable HPV targeted initiatives related to the offered pharmacy curriculum should be planned and executed to equip future pharmacists with proper knowledge and soft skills to perform their effective role in the prevention of HPV infection.

Author Biographies

Dr. Mohammad Daud Ali, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Yousif Hassan, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Ayaz Ahmad, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Sherihan Ahmad Ghosn, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Wasim Ahmad, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Esra’a Al-Abduljabbar, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Zahra Al-Madeh, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Maryam Al-Towilib, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

Bashayer Al-Shatti, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Abdulrazaq Bin Hammam Street, Al Safa, Dammam 34222 , Saudi Arabia.

Department of Pharmacy

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Published

24-06-2022

How to Cite

Ali, D. M. D., Hassan, Y., Ahmad, A., Ghosn, S. A., Ahmad, W., Al-Abduljabbar, E., Al-Madeh, Z., Al-Towilib, M., & Al-Shatti, B. (2022). Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward human papillomavirus infection among undergraduate pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy Education, 22(1), p. 629–636. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.629636

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Research Article

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