Student nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the papanicolaou examination

Abstract

cervical cancer is a public health problem which can be changed through the adoption of the Papanicolaou examination. This research was undertaken with nursing students at a public university in Picos, Piauí, Brazil. This is an evaluative study of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices type, whose objective was to analyze the knowledge, attitude and practice of student nurses regarding the Papanicolaou examination. Data collection took place between August and September 2010, involving 143 student nurses. Regarding knowledge of the examination, only 40 (28%) were classified as having an adequate knowledge. In relation to attitude and practice, the percentages were 106 (74.1%) and 75 (52.4%) respectively. It is concluded that even though the study population is from a course in the area of health, their knowledge of the examination needs to be revised with more health promotion activities held in the university environment.