Şcoala Naţională de Sănătate Publică şi Management Sanitar
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is a serious disease, the cause of which, overwhelmingly, is represented by infection with oncogenic strains of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Romania ranks first in Europe in terms of mortality from cervical cancer (10.77%000), over 6 times higher than the mean of the European Union (EU). PURPOSE: The assessment of knowledge of specialist physicians (general practitioners, gynecologists, and pediatricians) about HPV infection and HPV vaccination, patient awareness about cervical cancer, HPV infection prevention, and the identification of barriers to the implementation of a vaccination strategy. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study by using a selfadministered questionnaire to physicians from the Central Region of Romania, covering six counties. The questionnaire was aimed at identifying the knowledge of physicians about HPV infection and HPV vaccination, the level of information, as well as the barriers to HPV vaccination, the importance of a vaccination program and the manner of its implementation. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of the respondents reported a good level of knowledge about HPV infection/HPV vaccination. The two main sources of information on HPV infection/HPV vaccination was the study of books or journals (67.8%/64.2%), and participation in postgraduate courses (39.8%/39.4%). Ninety-three percent of physicians considered a new vaccination program against HPV infection in Romania to be useful, on condition that accurate information is provided to the patients and physicians involved. CONCLUSIONS: In order to implement an effective program to increase the absorption rate of HPV vaccination such educational strategies are required which would target both physicians and parents, by providing clear and transparent information about the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccine. Keywords: HPV infection, cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, questionnaire, general practitioner.INTRODUCERE: Cancerul de col uterin este o boală gravă, a cărei cauză, în majoritate covârşitoare, este infecţia cu tulpinile oncogene ale Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). România se situează pe primul loc din Europa în ceea ce priveşte mortalitatea cauzată de cancerul de col uterin (10.77%000), de peste 6 ori mai mult decât media ţărilor din Uniunea Europeană (UE). SCOP: Evaluarea nivelului de cunoştinţe a medicilor specialişti (de familie, ginecologi şi pediatri) cu privire la infecţia HPV şi vaccinarea anti-HPV, a gradului de informare a pacienţilor despre cancerul de col uterin, prevenţia infecţiei cu HPV, respectiv identificarea barierelor în aplicarea unei strategii de vaccinare. MATERIAL ŞI METODE: S-a apelat la un studiu tip transversal, folosind un chestionar auto-administrat la medici din regiunea Centru a României, ce cuprinde 6 judeţe. Chestionarul a urmărit nivelul de cunoştinţe a medicilor despre infecţia HPV şi vaccinarea anti-HPV, gradul de informare, respectiv barierele în calea vaccinării anti-HPV, importanţa unui program de vaccinare şi modul lui de implementare. REZULTATE: Aproximativ 50% dintre respondenţi au raportat un nivel bun de cunoştinţe despre infecţia HPV/vaccinarea anti-HPV. Principalele două surse de informaţii privind infecţia cu HPV/vaccinarea HPV au fost prin studierea cărţilor sau revistelor de specialitate (67.8%/64.2%), respectiv participarea la cursuri postuniversitare (39.8%/39.4%). Aproxomativ 93.0% dintre medici consideră util un nou program de vaccinare împotriva infecţiei cu HPV în România, în condiţiile unei informări corecte a pacienţilor şi a medicilor implicaţi. CONCLUZII: Pentru implementarea unui program eficient, cu sporirea ratei de absorbţie a vaccinării anti-HPV, se impun strategii educaţionale care ar trebui să fie orientate atât spre medici, cât şi spre părinţi, coroborate cu subvenţionarea totală a vaccinului. Cuvinte cheie: infecţia HPV, cancer de col uterin, vaccinare anti-HPV, chestionar, medic de familie
