HPV Testing And Vaccination Knowledge And Uptake Among Final-Year Medical Students İn Central Anatolia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV ), HPV testing, and HPV vaccination among final-year medical students in Central 
Anatolia and to determine HPV vaccination uptake.
Materials and Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional descriptive study between March and June 2025. After ethics committee approval, we distributed an online 
questionnaire to intern doctors from eight medical faculties in Konya, Ankara, Kayseri, Aksaray, and Karaman in the Central Anatolia Region. A total of 384 interns 
who voluntarily participated and completed the questionnaire were included in the study. Data were collected using an online survey comprising sociodemographic 
characteristics and the 33-item Turkish-validated Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 31, and 
group comparisons were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among the 384 intern doctors included in the study, only 2.1% had received the HPV vaccine. The mean HPV knowledge score was 24.64±3.92. Among the 
subdomains, general HPV knowledge was highest, whereas knowledge regarding the protective effects of HPV vaccines was lowest. Notable gaps were identified in 
knowledge related to HPV testing and vaccination. No significant associations were observed between sociodemographic or behavioural characteristics and HPV 
knowledge levels (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Final-year medical students demonstrated significant deficiencies in HPV-related knowledge and very low vaccination uptake. These findings suggest 
that current medical education may be insufficient in terms of preventive medicine. Strengthening HPV-related education may improve future patient counselling 
and contribute to increasing vaccination rates.