Perception and Knowledge of Dental Students About the Link Between Human Papilloma Virus and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Abstract

Aim: Of particular importance is oropharyngeal cancer associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which has been equated in relevance with certain types of anogenital cancer and cervical cancer, including it within the classification of sexually transmitted diseases. Since dentists have daily contact with the oral cavity of patients, it is essential that they are properly informed on this subject. Material and method: The main objective of this research was to determine the level of knowledge that the students of the 9th and 10th semester of the dental career at the Autonomous Regional University of Los Andes have regarding the human papillomavirus associated with oropharyngeal cancer, during the academic period from October 2020 to March 2021. For this, a mixed approach was used that combined qualitative and quantitative elements, with a descriptive and applied design. The methodology consisted of the use of a survey through a 20-question questionnaire, which was applied to a total of 84 students who met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistics and Result: The results obtained revealed that the level of knowledge of the students about HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer is considered regular, with an average knowledge of 38.94%.