KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS VACCINATION AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS IN AL AHASA, SAUDI ARABIA

Introduction:Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to a variety of cancers in both men and women. HPV is a DNA virus that causes warts on the skin and mucous membranes. Some HPV strains can cause cancers such as anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and cervical cancer. All of these cancers are preventable if the vaccine is used correctly. In Saudi Arabia, two types of HPV vaccine are available: bivalent vaccine (Cervarix) and quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil). The purpose of this study was to assess Saudi physicians knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HPV vaccine.

Method:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia by 2022, with the studys target population being physicians working in primary health care settings in the Ministry of Health. The study included 385, however only 289 participants who worked in primary health care under the Ministry of Health, AlAhsa have responded. The Ethics Committee has approved the research.

Results: Total 289 doctors working in AlAhhsa primary health care centers were included in the study, with 136 females (47.06%) and 153 male (52.94%). The majority of the participants, 259(89.62%), were Saudi, and almost half (49.83%) had less than 5 years of experience. Family medicine consultants and specialist had higher level of knowledge about HPV vaccine than family medicine residents and GP with mean(SD) of 4.19(1.27), 4.71(1.40), 3.81(1.45) and 3.50(1.33) respectively. There was a significant correlation between level of knowledge with practice and attitude towards HPV vaccine ( p=0.001). 

Conclusion:Primary health care physicians working in PHC inAlAhasa ,Saudi Arabia have basic knowledge about HPV vaccine with a preference for consultants with a higher percentage, then specialists, and lastly residents.