Assessment of attitudes and practices regarding human papillomavirus vaccines among Medical University students: preliminary results

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are highly prevalent and are linked to a range of health conditions, from benign lesions to several oncological diseases. Safe and highly effective HPV vaccines have been developed; however, vaccination rates remain suboptimal in many countries, including Bulgaria. As future medical professionals, the attitudes and practices of healthcare students toward HPV vaccination are of extreme importance. Aim: To evaluate the attitudes and practices of university healthcare students regarding HPV vaccines. Materials and methods: An anonymous online survey was administered to a total of 245 medical, dental, and pharmacy students at the Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v. 24; p