Eftihia Gesouli-Voltyraki,Maria Labadiari, Eleni Yfanti, Panagiota Deli, Stefania Kostopoulou, Vagia Kanavou, Maria oula
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Vaccines against HumanPapillomaVirus( HPV) are currently available. Purpose: It was to present a comparative assessment of the attitudes and knowledge of women - health professionals and women of general population regarding the Pap test and the receptivity to HPV vaccination, as recorded in two previous studies. Method and Material: Two hundred and fifty- one women were included in both studies. One hundred women of general population and 151 were women-health professionals in outpatient settings aged 18-65 years old were included in the study. The same questionnaire with closed-type questions referring to the knowledge of the women regarding the prevention of the cervical cancer, and the Pap test had been use used in both studies. XC2 test was used to compare rates between the two groups. Results: 90% of women in both groups were 20-45 years old. 41% of women in general population sample lived in a town , while 65% of health professionals did so. Approximately 65% of women in both groups had a monthly family income < 2000 euros. A statistically significant larger percentage of health professionals had conducted the Pap test, at least once in a lifetime. According to the results of the present study, 40% of the general population and 39.7% of health professionals ignored the precise purpose of Pap test, (p>0.05). 59% of general population women and 24.4% of women-health professionals ignored the existence of HPV. Women were receptive to their offspring’s vaccination, with health professionals being statistically significantly more receptive. Women in both groups expressed concerns about vaccine side effects. Women of general population were statistically more cautious about the etiology of the disease, while health professionals consider themselves less informed about their son’s vaccination. Conclusion : Women – health professionals were more receptive to HPV vaccination than women of general population in Greek province areas. Precise knowledge of Pap test purpose is lacking in both groups.
