Gynecologists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intentions Toward Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Serbia.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to estimate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and intentions about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccine among gynecologists and to explore predictors of gynecologists' intention to recommend the HPV vaccine.


METHODS
This research was conducted between April and June 2014 among all gynecologists working at women's health departments in all primary health centers in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, using a specially designed questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate was 88.2%. The knowledge of gynecologists was estimated as average. The most frequently reported obstacles to HPV vaccination was the financial concern (59.8%). More than two thirds of the gynecologists were willing to recommend the vaccine (68.4%). The factors associated with the gynecologists' intention to recommend the vaccine included their positive attitudes toward boys' vaccination (odds ratio [OR], 8.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.85-28.16), negative attitudes toward frequent changes the recommendations (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.93), and beliefs that the vaccine application would decrease condom usage (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.06-0.68).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide an important insight into the current point of view of the gynecologists, which confirms that the better the knowledge of HPV and vaccine, the higher the likelihood of recommending it.
1 Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade; and 2 Primary Health Center "Dr Simo Milosevic," Belgrade, Serbia.
Zeljka
Z
Stamenkovic
Bojana
B
Matejic
Bosiljka
B
Djikanovic
Marija
M
Zaric
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D055771:Serbia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines