Assessing the role of education on Turkish university students' knowledge about HPV and related diseases.

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted causes of infections and adolescents are at high risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate university students' HPV knowledge before and after educational intervention on HPV. METHODS This study was undertaken in the Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. A total of 553 university students were educated about HPV and related diseases. Pre-test was administered before education intervention, and then university students' knowledge was evaluated by using post-test. Paired sample t test was used to evaluate differences between pre-test and post-test answers. RESULTS The mean pre-test score for HPV knowledge was 11.6 (SD 1.76, range 10-20). After education, the mean post-test score was 18.8 (SD 1.52, range 11-20) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Information campaigns and education specifically targeting university students are needed in the near future, to promote greater and more adequate knowledge of HPV and related diseases in the general population.