Abstract:
AimThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between individuals' knowledge, beliefs, and vaccination status regarding human papillomavirus.Subject and methodsThis study had a descriptive correlational design and was carried out with individuals in Turkey between November 2022 and February 2023. A total of 433 participants were involved in the study. A Descriptive Information Form, the Health Belief Model Scale (HBM) for Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccine, and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Knowledge Scale were employed for data collection. SPSS 22.0, G*Power 3.1, and R programming language 4.1.3 programs were used to analyze the data.ResultsIn our study, it was found that increasing the HPV knowledge level of individuals (t = 2.695, p = 0.007) led to a statistical increase in HPV HBM perceived susceptibility. It was found that increasing the HPV knowledge level of individuals (t = 2.045, p = 0.041) led to a statistical increase in HPV HBM perceived severity. CART and RF methods are the most accurate methods for HPV HBM perceived susceptibility and HPV HBM perceived severity prediction, respectively. SHAP values (Shapley additive explanations) are the most significant variables that need to be included in the model to predict HPV HBM perceived susceptibility and HPV HBM perceived severity variables in the estimation of the model HPV knowledge variable.ConclusionIncreased knowledge about human papillomavirus was found to increase the susceptibility and severity of individuals regarding HPV. It is recommended that further studies be carried out on this topic, given that the extent and breadth of individuals' knowledge about HPV infection will have an effect on their HPV health beliefs.
