College students' knowledge of human papillomavirus and effectiveness of a brief educational intervention

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the United States and is associated with considerable morbidity and cost. Several surveys of college students have found, however, a paucity of knowledge of HPV. Sexually transmitted disease education focused on human immunodeficiency virus infection has been found to be effective at improving knowledge and safe-sex behaviors, at least in the short term. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief HPV-focused, educational intervention on college students' knowledge of HPV.

Sixty physician's assistant and psychology students were administered a questionnaire that elicited their knowledge of HPV, including prevalence, symptomatology, and complications. The participants then underwent a brief HPV-focused educational intervention. Three months later, the cohorts were reevaluated with the same questionnaires.

Before the intervention, only 45% of the HPV questions were answered correctly, compared with 87% of the non-HPV items. After the intervention, 79% of the HPV questions were answered appropriately. Physician's assistant students performed significantly better than the psychology students on the HPV questions, but not statistically significantly better on the non-HPV related items. Women performed better than men on the non-HPV questions, but scored similarly for the HPV-related items.

Despite the high prevalence and serious complications associated with HPV infection, most college students know very little about HPV. Brief HPV-focused educational interventions, which could be readily implemented in the family physician's office at a routine visit, were found to be effective at improving HPV knowledge, at least in the short term. More HPV education is needed, particularly for young adults. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of HPV education on improving safe-sex behaviors.