Effect of HPV Education on Women's Knowledge

The Effect of Human Papillomavirus Education Provided to Women on Their Level of Knowledge Regarding Human Papillomavirus

This interventional study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on women's knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccination, and screening. HPV is a major public health concern worldwide and a leading cause of cervical cancer. Although cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and early screening, HPV awareness among women remains limited in Türkiye. Educational interventions are therefore essential to improve knowledge and promote preventive health behaviors.

The study population consists of 110 women attending courses at the Suzan and Abdulhakim Bilgili Public Education Center in Onikişubat, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, between August 2025 and December 2025. No formal sample size calculation was performed. Instead, 80 women who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate were included in the study.

Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (education) or the control group (no education). The HPV education program is delivered in two 1-hour sessions using PowerPoint presentations and informational brochures developed from current literature and reviewed by experts in women's health nursing.

Data are collected before and after the educational sessions using a Personal Information Form and the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS), which measures participants' knowledge about HPV infection, vaccination, and screening. Statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS 22.0, with descriptive statistics and inferential tests (paired-sample t-test, independent-sample t-test, repeated-measures ANOVA, and non-parametric equivalents) applied as appropriate. A p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

It is hypothesized that women receiving HPV education will demonstrate significantly higher post-intervention knowledge scores compared to those in the control group.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Human Papillomavirus (HPV); Awareness and Knowledge Level
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: HPV Awareness Education Group

Detailed Description

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly contagious virus that is recognized as a major public health problem both nationally and internationally due to its association with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer within the category of gynecological cancers that can be detected early through screening programs, thereby preventing its progression. It ranks fourth among the most common cancers in women and remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Globally, in 2020, there were 604,000 new cervical cancer cases and 342,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer. The World Health Organization recommends the inclusion of HPV vaccines in national immunization programs. While HPV vaccination rates are high in developed countries, there are delays in vaccine access in underdeveloped and developing countries . In Türkiye, HPV vaccination has not yet been incorporated into the national immunization program.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading health concerns worldwide in terms of mortality and morbidity rates. The high incidence, insufficient HPV screening, and low awareness of HPV indicate the widespread presence of HPV infection . Increasing public awareness, preventing disease occurrence, and implementing protective planning and educational interventions are of great importance. One of the key strategies for addressing cervical cancer is to promote HPV screening .

In Türkiye, several studies have been conducted to assess the level of knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among healthcare personnel and students in health-related fields. The results of these studies have shown that participants' knowledge about HPV is not at the desired level . These studies revealed deficiencies in fundamental areas such as HPV-related infections, vaccination methods, and the effectiveness and importance of the vaccine. Such knowledge gaps may limit healthcare professionals' ability to provide effective health services and raise public awareness regarding HPV. Similarly, studies evaluating women's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about HPV and its vaccine have generally shown that women's knowledge of HPV is low

Therefore, HPV education is considered highly important. Educational programs can help participants make informed decisions and protect their sexual health. The findings obtained from such programs may guide the implementation of similar initiatives for larger communities and increase awareness about HPV. These kinds of studies play a crucial role in designing preventive measures and awareness-raising programs for public health, while also contributing to the limited existing literature. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the effect of HPV education provided to women on their level of knowledge regarding human papillomavirus.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 110
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fatma Keskin Töre; Phone Number: 0 344 300 26 06; Email: keskinfatma989@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older,
• Agreeing to participate in the study,
• Not experiencing communication difficulties,
• Female students who complete the data collection form in full will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previously tested positive for HPV
• History of cervical cancer
• Unreachable
• Not attending public education during the training period
• Female students who did not complete the data collection form will be excluded from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group
Experimental: HPV Awareness Education Group	Other: HPV Awareness Education Group; Women who agree to participate in the training will receive a total of two hours of HPV awareness training in two sessions on the predetermined training date. The HPV awareness training will be delivered using a PowerPoint presentation, and at the end of the training, a brochure created in line with the literature will be distributed to the participating women to ensure retention. The brochure will be prepared by the researcher based on current literature sources. Expert opinions will be sought from specialists in the field of obstetrics and gynecology nursing regarding the training content, and revisions will be made if necessary. The training content will include the definition of HPV, risk factors, etiology, screening, HPV vaccination, transmission and prevention methods, and treatment. The training topics will be prepared by the faculty members responsible for the research in accordance with the literature.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HPV knowledge level measured by the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPV-BÖ)	his outcome will assess changes in participants' knowledge about HPV, HPV vaccination, HPV screening tests, and the national vaccination program using the HPV Knowledge Scale adapted to Turkish women. The scale consists of 33 items scored as 0-33, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge.	Baseline (pre-test) and immediately after the education session (post-test)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
General HPV knowledge measured by the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-BÖ) - Subscale 1	Evaluates participants' general knowledge about HPV infection using the related subscale of the HPV Knowledge Scale	Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Knowledge of HPV screening tests measured by the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-BÖ) - Subscale 2	Assesses changes in knowledge related to HPV screening tests	Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Knowledge of HPV vaccination measured by the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-BÖ) - Subscale 3	Assesses participants' knowledge about HPV vaccination and recommendations.	Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Knowledge of the national HPV vaccination program measured by the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-BÖ) - Subscale 4	Evaluates changes in awareness regarding the national HPV vaccination program.	Baseline and immediately after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 1. World Health Organization-WHO. Updates recommendations on HpV vacci- nation schedule

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): November 14, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 17, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Human papillomavirus (HPV); HPV education; Women's health
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025/23/04

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No