IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i3p251-d1343773.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Nursing Students in a Greek University Regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Lagadinou

    (Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Medical School of Patras, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Katerina Spiliopoulou

    (Karamandaneio General Hospital of Patras, 26331 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Themistoklis Paraskevas

    (Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Despoina Gkentzi

    (Medical School of Patras, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Stelios Assimakopoulos

    (Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Medical School of Patras, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Department of Infectious Diseases, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Paraskevi Katsakiori

    (Health Centre of Akrata, 25006 Akrata, Achaia, Greece)

  • Leonidia Leonidou

    (Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Department of Infectious Diseases, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

  • Markos Marangos

    (Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Medical School of Patras, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece
    Department of Infectious Diseases, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Achaia, Greece)

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: the present study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing students at the University of Patras, western Greece, regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual behavior and STI prevention measures, as well as the level of future healthcare professionals’ education. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 231 medical and nursing students ( n = 106 medical, and n = 125 nursing) completed and returned the pre-tested study questionnaire. Results: Most participants (77.5%) were females and46.1% were in the age group of 18–21 years. Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B were regarded as STIs by 65.8% of them. Medical students could predominantly list the widely known STIs compared to nursing students ( p = 0.004). Regarding HIV/AIDS, 72.7% of the respondents reported that it is transmitted sexually and through blood transfusion. However, medical students were better informed than nursing students ( p = 0.001). Medical students as well as students in the final year of their studies were found to be better informed about the vaccines available to prevent STIs. Regarding the question about what constitutes a risky sexual behavior, 71.4% answered sexual intercourse without the use of condom and 18.6% indicated having sex with an unknown partner. Most participants (69.7%) were satisfied with the education provided by their institution and no statistically significant difference was observed between medical and nursing students. Almost all students (97.8%) agreed that the course/subject of sex education must be included in school programs. Conclusions: A comprehensive analysis of knowledge and attitudes of Greek medical and nursing students regarding STIs, prevention measures and education level was conducted. The results of the present study could assist in the development of targeted training courses that can improve healthcare professionals’ knowledge and ability to manage STIs.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Lagadinou & Katerina Spiliopoulou & Themistoklis Paraskevas & Despoina Gkentzi & Stelios Assimakopoulos & Paraskevi Katsakiori & Leonidia Leonidou & Markos Marangos, 2024. "Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Nursing Students in a Greek University Regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-9, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:251-:d:1343773
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/251/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/251/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Teresa Fasciana & Giuseppina Capra & Paola Di Carlo & Cinzia Calà & Marco Vella & Giuseppe Pistone & Claudia Colomba & Anna Giammanco, 2021. "Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Sexual Behavioral Factors of Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections Attending a Hospital in Southern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Teresa Fasciana & Giuseppina Capra & Dario Lipari & Alberto Firenze & Anna Giammanco, 2022. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Diagnosis and Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-3, April.
    2. Daniel Íncera-Fernández & Francisco J. Román & Manuel Gámez-Guadix, 2022. "Risky Sexual Practices, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Motivations, and Mental Health among Heterosexual Women and Men Who Practice Sexualized Drug Use in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Chrysa Voyiatzaki & Maria S. Venetikou & Effie Papageorgiou & Fragiski Anthouli-Anagnostopoulou & Panagiotis Simitzis & Dimitrios I. Chaniotis & Maria Adamopoulou, 2021. "Awareness, Knowledge and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Young People in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:251-:d:1343773. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.