Clinical Medicine Insights: Reproductive Health

Background: Cervical cancer is preventable with regular PAP tests and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Objective: Identify factors influencing initiation into regular sexual health examinations within a group of undergraduate health science students who have high parental SES.

Methods: After reviewing the literature, a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about HPV exposure and cervical cancer prevention through vaccination and cervical cancer screening was developed. The survey was circulated using a web-based survey tool to undergraduate Faculty of Health Sciences student.

Results: Two hundred and three students at McMaster University completed the survey. The sample included 72% women and 28% men. The mean age was 19.4 years. This sample represents a population of young adults who the previous literature would suggest are most likely to have regular health care since they are affluent (FAS greater than 6.7 ± 1.4). This group is also motivated in health education as 83.3% knew about the HPV vaccine and 76.4% could define the purpose of a PAP smear. Both male and female students were more likely to consult their family doctor about sexual health than their family. More than half of sexually active females have a family doctor, 82.1% of which visit them regularly. Sexually active women visit more regularly than sexually inactive women (p < 0.01). The majority (66%) are comfortable discussing sexual health with their family doctor, yet only 62.5% of women have had this discussion. 57% of sexually active women and less that 1% of non-sexually active women had had a PAP smear or a pelvic exam.

Conclusion: These affluent and well educated students do not appear to be able to apply their knowledge of HPV and PAP smears to their own sexual health. Thus they require access to tools that help motivate university students to personalize information and make important health decisions.