Raghupathi Mahitha1, T. S. Arunprasath2
BACKGROUND
Cervical cancer in women can be effectively prevented by HPV vaccine. Healthcare professionals including pharmacists have a
role in creating awareness about this vaccine to public. In this context, it was decided to study awareness level about HPV
among pharmacy students. The aim of the study is to study the knowledge and attitude towards human papilloma virus and
it’s vaccine among pharmacy students of tertiary teaching university hospital in South India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Cross sectional, questionnaire-based study among pharmacy students.
RESULTS
229 pharmacy students participated in the study. The mean total knowledge score among participants was 2.69 (SD=2.260)
out of the possible maximum of 11 and the mean total attitude score was 2.67 (SD=2.437) out of the possible maximum of
10. Lack of knowledge about vaccine was the main reason for not taking the vaccine. Knowledge about the vaccines improves
the attitude towards it (p<0.0001).
CONCLUSION
There is a need to design education program for pharmacy students to increase awareness about HPV, which in turn will
increase the awareness among public positively.
