This research study assessed the knowledge of 624 female students at a midwestern university regarding human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine. Recent research reveals that, although HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, a study of 90 women ages 18-30 found that many women did not understand the risk factors for HPV infection, the clinical manifestations of the infection, and the potential sequelae of a persistent genital HPV infection (Giles & Garland, 2006). Other studies regarding HPV awareness yielded similar results (Mays et al., 2000; Pitts & Clarke, 2002; Yacobi, Tennant, Ferrante, Pal, & Roetzheim, 1999).

Results from this replication study were based on a sample of 624 women ages 18-26 who were accessed through a university listserv and invited to participate in a brief study based on research by Giles and Garland (2006). Respondents completed a survey consisting of four sections: demographics, past experience with cervical screening (Pap test) or colposcopy, knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, and knowledge about the HPV vaccine.

Results indicated that most college-aged women surveyed had heard about HPV, and many had a general knowledge regarding HPV, the HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer. The knowledge was evidenced by 97% of survey respondents claiming to have heard of HPV, along with the majority of respondents correctly identifying HPV risk factors and modes of transmission. The majority of respondents (79%) correctly identified cervical cancer as a potential consequence of a long-term HPV infection. Additionally, a large number of respondents (89%) were aware that a vaccine for HPV exists.

The results of this study indicate that respondents had significantly greater knowledge regarding the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer than did respondents from Giles and Garland's study. Despite these positive results, more work can be done to emphasize the importance of HPV prevention and the skin-to-skin nature of HPV transmission.