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Updated: Jun 20, 2025
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Knowledge and attitudes regarding sexually transmitted infections among healthcare workers
Giulia Ciccarese1, Ilaria Salvi2,3, Giorgio Oddenino2,3
1Unit of Dermatology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy - giulia.ciccarese@unifg.it.
Background:
Healthcare workers have a fundamental role in providing care and education on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, their knowledge is often worryingly limited. This study aimed to assess the real knowledge and attitude regarding STIs among healthcare workers of the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Methods:
The recruited subjects were asked to complete a 31-item questionnaire, divided into 3 sections: socio-demographic context, knowledge about STIs, and personal sexual behavior.
Results:
We enrolled 140 subjects, employed as nurses (52.9%), physicians (12.9%), laboratory technicians (7.1%), or other workers (27.1%). Despite the generalized erroneous belief of having a good level of knowledge on the matter, only one-third of the subjects could correctly identify STIs among a list of diseases, and less than one-third correctly recognize all possible ways of transmission. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was the most frequently recognized STI (97%), but only 39.2% of healthcare workers were correctly informed about the body fluids that can transmit the virus. Most participants (93.5%) correctly identified condoms as effective in preventing STIs but did not indicate complete abstinence as the only way to guarantee protection against STIs. Most participants were informed on the oncogenic potential of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections (82%), the usefulness of the Pap test (85.7%), and the existence of vaccines against some STIs (63.5%).
Conclusions:
Overall, healthcare workers have limited knowledge about STIs. Creating specific educational programs aimed at healthcare providers should become a priority.
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