CONHECIMENTO DE ESTUDANTES DO CURSO DE FISIOTERAPIA SOBRE O HPV E A PREVENÇÃO DO CÂNCER DO COLO DO ÚTERO

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the knowledge of Physical Therapy students about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the prevention of cervical cancer (CC). Methods: A cross sectional, quantitative study was conducted with 60 Physical Therapy students from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, using a self-administered online questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and knowledge about HPV and CC were collected. The analysis included descriptive statistics, association tests (Chi-square), and the creation of a knowledge score (0-6 points) to assess the level of correct answers on key questions. Results: The sample was predominantly female (66.67%), with a mean age of 21.57 years. Although 100% of participants had heard of HPV and 75% reported being vaccinated, the average knowledge score was moderate (3.32 ± 1.16). Knowledge was deficient on topics such as the high prevalence of the virus in the sexually active population (13.33% correct) and transmission via fomites (48.33% correct). There was a significant association between gender and vaccination (p=0.0005), and between age group and vaccination (p=0.0368), with higher coverage among younger students. Conclusions: Despite general awareness of the topic, physical therapy students demonstrate moderate knowledge with significant gaps, especially regarding the prevalence and non-sexual transmission routes of HPV. The findings reinforce the need to strengthen health education strategies during undergraduate studies to empower future professionals to act as effective agents in the prevention of HPV and CC.