Difference Between Medical and Nonmedical Students on Knowledge, Practice, and Attitude Towards the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in China: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection effectively. The college student’s vaccination status is unclear in mainland China. We assessed the knowledge, practice, and attitude towards HPV vaccine and compared the differences between medical and nonmedical students. It was a cross-sectional study using self-administered anonymous questionnaires. Nine-hundred sixty full-time college students were recruited randomly at Peking University in China. The medical students had higher level of knowledge of HPV and its vaccine than the nonmedical students (p < 0.001). The vaccinated female students were 9.0%. The high-grade clinical students had a higher uptake rate than the nonmedical students (19.5 vs 8.6%, p < 0.05). Awareness of HPV (p < 0.01), awareness of the vaccine (p < 0.001), and vaccinated family members or friends (p < 0.001) were related to the nonmedical students’ vaccination. Vaccinated family members or friends were significant predictor for students’ vaccination status (p < 0.001). Medical students knew more about HPV and its vaccine than nonmedical students. Female students’ vaccinated rate was low, and the high-grade clinical students had a higher uptake rate than the nonmedical students.