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AIM: Aim of the study was to determine medical school students' knowledge levels and attitudes who accomplished Obstetric and Gynecology clerkship in a medical school about HPV vaccination and intention to suggest HPV vaccine to their patients. METHOD: This descriptive study was carried out in a medical school among 166 medical students accomplishing their internship in the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Diseases Department. Study data had been collected by questionnaire which had three part and 30 question. The data were evaluated by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Fifty five point four of the students stated that they felt informed about HPV vaccine, 72.9% of them stated that HPV was more serious for women. 95.8% of the participants thought they would suggest HPV vaccine to their patients and the most proposed group was adolescent girls (51.6%). 80.5% of students stated their possibility to suggest the vaccine would increase in case the vaccine would be free. The most important drawback points of the students in suggesting the vaccine to their patients were thinking high priced and not cost effectiveness of the vaccine (51.6%) and inducing unprotected, risky sexual intercourses (45.9%). CONCLUSION: In this study we determine the professional acception of HPV vaccine between students. Also we determine the most important factor in suggesting the HPV vaccine is the cost effectiveness of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To determine the effect of peer education on the knowledge and attitudes of the young about safe sexual life and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHOD: In this intervention type epidemiologic study, 1100 youngs were reached at 95% level of significance by probability sampling method. These young people were given education by peer trainers; level of knowledge and attitudes of the young were evaluated before and after education. 'Young's Health Information Form' prepared by the investigators and including questions about safe sexual life, family planning and STDs along with socio-demographic informations was used for data collection. In statistical analysis, 't test' was used for comparison of two averages, one-way anova for three groups in independent groups, 'coupled t test' was used in dependent groups, 'qui-square test' was used for comparison of percents in independent groups, 'McNemar qui-square test' was used in dependent groups. RESULTS: A total of 977 young people (females 45.1%, males 54.9%) aged between 15-24 years were included in the study (response ratio 88.8%). It was determined that 15.6% of unmarried young had a relationship resulted in sexual intercourse. Boys constitute the majority of the young experienced sexual intercourse and mean age of sexual intercourse was determined as 17.6. Of the young, 43.1% had a sexual intercourse with a prostitute, 43.3% with a close friend and a girlfriend, 8.3% with a maquette or an animal. Total knowledge score increased to 32.6 from 14.6 following peer education intervention carried out based on health attitude theories (p<0.05). Significant improvements were detected in each of 'avoidance of sexual intercourse', 'being monogamous' and 'condom use' in the context of safe sexual life (p<0.05). While ratio of modern method use increased to 80.8% from 53.8%, using no methods decraesed to 11.8% from 28%. CONCLUSION: Peer education model is suggested to be beneficial for enlightening the young about safe exual life and also for creating positive behavioral changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]