title: Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Pre-University Students in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Studies evaluating the effect of health education on knowledge and perception of cervical cancer have generated conflicting results. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational intervention towards knowledge of HPV vacccination for cervical cancer prevention among pre-university students in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an experimental before and after study performed between October 2014 and March 2015. Five hundred and eighty students were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. All were required to complete both pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires. Those in the intervention group were given an information leaflet to read before answering the post-intervention questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half (48.3%) of the students had poor knowledge, with a score less than 5, and only 51 (8.8%) exhibited good knowledge, with a score of 11 and above. After educational intervention, the number of students with poor knowledge was reduced to 177 (29.3%) and the number of students who exhibited good knowledge increased to 148 (25.5%). Students from the intervention group demonstrated significant higher total scores in knowledge regarding 'HPV infection and cervical cancer' (p=0.000) and 'HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention' (p=0.000) during post-intervention as compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination is low among pre-university students. Educational intervention in the form of information leaflets appears effective in creating awareness and improving knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia E-mail : nbk_9955@yahoo.com, nbk9955@ppukm.ukm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Ng Beng
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Kwang
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahayudin
authors.forename: Hii Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yien
authors.forename: Abdul Kadir
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Abdul Karim
authors.forename: Chew Kah
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Teik
authors.forename: Lim Pei
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Shan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010465:Perception; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods