SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus in the world and is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. The most effective approach to cervical cancer control continues to be screening through the preventive Papanicolaou test (Pap test). This study analyzes the knowledge of university students of health science programs as well as undergraduate courses in other areas of knowledge on important questions regarding HPV. METHOD: Four hundred and seventy-three university students completed a questionnaire assessing their overall knowledge regarding HPV infection, cervical cancer, and the Pap test. A descriptive analysis is presented, and multivariate analysis using logistic regression identified factors associated with HPV/cervical cancer information. RESULTS: Knowledge was higher for simple HPV-related and Pap test questions but was lower for HPV interrelations with genital warts and cervical cancer. Being from the health science fields and having high income were factors associated with greater knowledge. Only the minority of the participants recognized all the situations that increased the risk of virus infection presented in the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for educational campaigns regarding HPV infection, its potential as a cervical cancer agent and the forms of prevention available.

the goals is to reduce knowledge gaps concerning HPV infection 1 . Additionally, HPV is involved in other cancers, such as anogenital and oropharyngeal ones, all of them susceptible to prevention by vaccine 2 .The success of HPV prevention programs will depend on whether health care professionals recommend the vaccine to patients. They influence the decision-making of patients and guardians, minimize vaccination barriers, and increase its acceptability 3 .The knowledge on HPV and related cancers is developed throughout medical education and will be essential to physicians, especially those dealing with HPV malignant lesions at different levels of care-health counseling and education, prevention by vaccination and screening, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery 4 .In Brazil, cervical cancer is still an important cause of cancer and death 5 . Urgent and bold action is needed to scale up and sustain evidence-based interventions. The identification of knowledge gaps among physicians can support proposals for improving medical education, reduce negative beliefs, and promote adherence to vaccination and other HPV prevention methods, contributing to HPV incidence reduction and cervical cancer control 1 .The objective of the study was to assess physicians' knowledge about HPV infection and its prevention in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state, Brazil.

IntroductionHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus in the world. One of the barriers to the implementation of prevention programs against the disease is the limited knowledge possessed by most populations regarding the virus and its possible consequences.MethodsA total of 473 students aged 18 to 78 years (mean 28.2±9.35) from two public universities from Rio de Janeiro State attending different undergraduate courses from health and non-health area, answered a questionnaire about transmission, clinical features and the possible consequences of persistent HPV infection. The questionnaire was self-applied under the supervision of the authors.ResultsAlthough most of the students independent of the study area had already heard of HPV (99.3% from health and 92.2% non-health courses), a significant portion did not associate virus infection with the appearance of warts in the genital tract (40,3% from health and 62.7% from non-health courses). Among female students enrolled in non-health courses, 61.1% did not recognise cervical cancer as a possible consequence of HPV infection. Considering the knowledge of risk situations as a basic form of prevention of HPV infection, only 33.2% of the students from non-health courses identified 3 or 4 of the four HPV infection risk situations presented in the questionnaire. Even the use of condoms, a basic STD prevention attitude, was not recognised by 13% of the students interviewed regardless of the attending course. At the end of the interview all participants received an informative folder on the issues investigated.ConclusionResults highlight the need for educational campaigns regarding HPV infection, its potential as a cervical cancer agent and the forms of prevention available among university students.