title: Awareness of human papillomavirus infection, genitoanal warts and cancer in a dermatological outpatient clinic setting.
abstract: There has been little research into awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) among dermatological out-patients, despite the fact that management of HPV infection causing genitoanal warts/cancer is part of the routine practice of dermato-venereologists. The aim of this study was to explore awareness of HPV among dermatological outpatients. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 360 consecutive attendees of a Munich dermatological outpatient clinic in November 2009. Of the total number of questionnaires, 77.2% were returned, and 69.7% (n=251, 51.8% females) were included in the analysis. 39.4% of the respondents had heard of HPV infection, and 23.9% of vaccination. Of those who had heard of HPV, 81.8% knew that HPV risk is associated with non-use condoms, number of sexual partners (77.8%), smoking (8.1%), and that HPV causes genital warts (65.7%), anal warts (39.4%) and cervical cancer (57.6%). HPV ignorance (never having heard of HPV) was predicted by being male (adjusted odds ratio=2.23, 95% confidence interval=1.32-3.80) and being a parent (adjusted odds ratio=2.11, 95% confidence interval=1.24-3.59). We conclude that dermatological outpatients have insufficient knowledge of HPV, its sequelae and prevention.
authors.affiliation: HIV/STI Prevention Research Group, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Frauenlobstr. 9-11, DE-80337 Munich, Germany. laura.kuznetsov@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuznetsov
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Reitmaier-Weber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kuznetsov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001364:Awareness; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines