Evaluation of Educational Interventions Targeting Beliefs About Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause health problems ranging from warts in the mouth or genital area to cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile and anal cancers. Some beliefs about diseases or infectious agents have a negative impact on the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, particularly by increasing the stigmatization effect of sexually transmitted diseases. Features such as the fact that mucosal contact is sufficient for transmission, that infected people can be symptom-free for a long time, that cancer often develops slowly, and that there are similarities with other sexually transmitted viruses such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or herpes can have a negative impact on knowledge and beliefs about HPV. It is known that it is crucial to emphasize correct information, not to repeat or point out inaccuracies when taking action to combat false beliefs or myths. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of this approach has been frequently emphasized in the guidance contained in the confirmatory information on misinformation and disinformation. In our study, we want to compare the effectiveness of education models in which false beliefs or myths about HPV are conveyed before or after the current information.