Awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus-related diseases are still dramatically insufficient in the era of high-coverage vaccination programs.

Abstract PURPOSE: Assess knowledge and awareness concerning human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HPV-associated diseases, and the existence of a specific vaccine among non-HPV-screened Caucasian-European adults after the market introduction of HPV vaccines. METHODS: A cohort of 934 consecutive patients seeking their first medical help for uroandrologic purposes anonymously completed a 17-item questionnaire related to HPV. Data were compared with those of an age-comparable cohort of nurses (controls; n = 172). RESULTS: Knowledge and awareness of HPV infection were reported in 564 (51 %) and 735 (66.5 %) participants, respectively. Overall, 51.3 % participants were informed that HPV is sexually transmitted, but most reported not being aware that HPV infection can be associated with anogenital warts (61.7 %), female genitalia (46.6 %), penile (58.5 %), and oropharyngeal cancer (79.7 %). Only 36.5 % of the participants were informed regarding the existence of a specific vaccine. HPV knowledge was retrieved through the media and/or the Internet, at school, doctors, and relatives or friends in 395 (35.7 %), 155 (14 %), 97 (8.8 %), and 88 (8.0 %) participants, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that female gender [odds ratio (OR) 3.08; p < 0.001; 95 % confidence interval 2.18-4.35] and educational status [high school diploma versus primary-secondary (OR 1.61; p = 0.03; 1.04-2.51); university degree versus primary-secondary (OR 2.89; p < 0.001; 1.83-4.57)] were significantly associated with awareness of HPV. CONCLUSIONS: Only approximately half of the participants reported knowing what HPV infection is, even after the approval and market introduction of the HPV vaccine. Awareness about the existence and availability of a HPV vaccine was even lower.