Survey Of Attitudes Research Articles

Knowledge and perception of medical students on genetics in the genomic era.

The importance of medical genetics in modern healthcare underscores the urgent need for comprehensive genetics education for physicians. Such training should address both fundamental concepts and ethical considerations to bridge existing knowledge gaps and improve early diagnostic capabilities. In Latin America, the level of genetic knowledge among healthcare workers, particularly medical students, remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates the knowledge and attitudes toward genetic testing among final-year medical students at a public university in Monterrey, Mexico. Using a cross-sectional, observational, and anonymous survey design, the International Genetic Literacy and Attitudes Survey version 3 (iGLAS3) was administered from October 1, 2019, to August 16, 2020. This online survey collected demographic information, assessed genetic knowledge, and gauged opinions on genetic topics, focusing on items most relevant to our research objectives. Statistical analyses provided descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency. Of the 323 surveys distributed, 201 participants completed essential sections, revealing a moderate to high level of genetic knowledge, with an average score of 70 ± 11.5. The demographic profile included 58.7% women, 40.3% men, and 0.5% non-binary individuals, with an average participant age of 24years. A majority of participants expressed openness to genetic testing, primarily through private entities; however, significant concerns about the potential misuse of genetic data were noted. These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing genetic education and incorporating practical genetics training into medical curricula to meet the evolving challenges in this field effectively.

Sexual experiences, attitudes, enjoyment and regret in the parent and offspring generations of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Childhood (ALSPAC): 2022 data sweep.

The aim of this data note is to describe data collected in 2022 on sexual history, attitudes, enjoyment and regret. Data were collected from mothers (age range 47–75 years (mean 60.0), n = 4653) their partners (age range 47-83 years (mean 62.9), n= 1945) and offspring (aged ~30 years, females n= 2702, males n=1366) in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents & Children (ALSPAC). Many of the questions asked are identical, or similar, to those collected in the British NATSAL (National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes & Lifestyles) surveys. Repeating the same questions in both ALSPAC generations allows for direct inter-generational comparisons within ALSPAC as well as across studies. Areas covered include age at sexual debut; having drunk alcohol, used drugs or contraception at sexual debut; the circumstances under which participants met their first sexual partner; sexual orientation; the Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale; regret at first sexual experience, lifetime experiences of sexual regret and the degree of regret, as well as the reason(s) for that regret; number of sexual partners both in the last two years and over their lifetime; current frequency and enjoyment of sex. ALSPAC provides a rich resource of data collected on a wide variety of topics including details of the participants’ environment, lifestyle, physical and mental health over the life span, including sexual experiences collected retrospectively from the parents, and from the age of 11 in the offspring. There are thus many opportunities for research on a wide variety of topics related to risky sexual behaviours, sexual health, functioning and well-being.

Enablers and barriers of implementing a whole school approach to ovulatory menstrual health literacy: a case study of a single-sex school in Western Australia

AbstractMy Vital Cycles® is a holistic ovulatory menstrual health literacy program for adolescent females. A whole school approach was used when trialled in one single-sex secondary school in Perth Australia. This study investigated the enablers and barriers for its future implementation from the perspective of the school’s teachers, nurses and psychologists. The design was a pre-trial survey of ovulatory menstrual health knowledge and attitudes, followed by post-trial interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). In the pre-trial survey, 12 school staff demonstrated positive attitudes to ovulatory menstrual health; sound anatomical knowledge; but limited knowledge of cycle patterns. There were two FGDs with five participants and eight post-trial semi-structured interviews, giving 13 school staff in total. Deductive thematic analysis identified 14 themes within a whole school approach framework, specifically: policies and resources; community partnerships; curriculum; social-emotional environment; and school health services. Enablers included school staff’s positive attitudes; the program’s validated materials; its curricular alignment; and address of stigma. Barriers included school staff’s need for professional development; extending the program over years; Health and Science silos; dependence on school leadership; and challenges of building community partnerships. Co-design with school leadership and staff to enhance opportunities for a whole school approach is recommended for future implementation.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Dietary Supplements: Community Pharmacies -Based Cross-Sectional Study in Yefren, Libya

Dietary supplements (DS) are the most prevalent subcategory of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is a classification of a variety of healthcare and medicinal items that aren't typically included in standard medications. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Yefren community pharmacies (Libya) about dietary supplements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect responses from 100 participants in community pharmacies in Yefren in March 2024 through a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey. Result: This study used a validated questionnaire consisting of four parts, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding dietary supplements. Conclusion: all the participants in the community pharmacies in Yefren had good knowledge, attitude, and practices for dietary supplements.

A survey of beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors about evidence-based practice in physical therapists of Latin America: a cross-sectional study

Evidence-based practice (EBP) refers to the integration of scientific evidence into the clinical setting. This study aimed to determine whether Latin American physiotherapists use EBP, analyze the associated factors, barriers, and facilitators, and examine the relationships between these elements in clinical practice. To conduct this cross-sectional study, the web-based questionnaire survey method was chosen. Survey was self-administered questionnaires to assess understanding of various EBP-related terms and determine their knowledge and ability to apply these concepts in clinical practice. The association between attitudes, awareness, and knowledge scores and the demographic data such as age group, years of experience, professional membership registry, and self-reported education was assessed. The questionnaire was distributed to a total of 5000 physical therapists, of which 4099 (82%) responded from seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, México, Perú, and Venezuela), between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2024. Overall, the physical therapists had positive attitudes, beliefs, and interests in EBP. Their educational background, knowledge, and skills related to assessing and interpreting information were associated to the use of EBP. In addition, 53% of respondents indicated that lack of time was the main obstacle to the use of EBP. The top 3 barriers included insufficient time (53%), lack of information resources (20.8%), and lack of research tools (13.6%). Among Latin American physical therapists, individual characteristics workplace, clinical experience, educational background, and demographic characteristics, may behave as facilitators or barriers when performing an EBP. Thus, identifying methods and strategies to support physical therapists in adopting EBP in the Latin American is necessary. The academization of physiotherapy training might change this in the future.

Sexual experiences and behaviours of the parents in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Childhood (ALSPAC)

The aim of this data note is to describe the sexual experiences, functioning and behaviour data collected from the parent cohorts of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) occurring during their childhoods and up to 19 years after the birth of the index child. ALSPAC is an ongoing birth cohort which enrolled 14,541 pregnant women living in Avon, an area of southwest England, with expected dates of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992 inclusive. It continues collecting data on these mothers (age range at delivery <16–41 years), their partners (age range at delivery <16–65), and their offspring, so far resulting in 100,000+ phenotype variables. During the index pregnancy the mothers were asked (and at 8 months post-delivery for partners) about their early sexual experiences to identify sexual abuse, the age at which an event first occurred, along with the type of perpetrator (e.g. stranger, relatives, boy/girlfriend). There are also data on these parents’ experiences of sexual assault as adults. Both parents were asked also about sexual abuse within a battery of questions identifying Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs). Further longitudinal data described here includes satisfaction with sexual and non-sexual sides of their relationship; sexual functioning; and at seven years post-delivery, both parents were asked to describe their sexual orientation as well as the sex of their partners. These data provide the ability to compare generational differences between parental sexual experiences and behaviours with those of their offspring, as well as allowing comparisons with other longitudinal surveys where similar (or identical) information has been collected such as the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL-3). This paper forms a companion to a further data note describing similar data collected on the offspring cohort.

Investigating changes in mental illness stigma and discrimination after the Time to Change programme in England.

Between 2008 and 2019, we reported positive change relating to mental health stigma and discrimination among the adult population of England, supporting the effectiveness of the Time to Change campaign. Using data from the Attitudes to Mental Illness survey (2008/2009 to 2023), we investigated the extent to which positive changes in stigma were sustained by 2023, 2 years after the programme's end in 2021. We used regression analyses to evaluate trends in outcomes. Measures were of stigma-related knowledge (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS)), attitudes (Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale (CAMI)) and desire for social distance (Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS)). We also examined willingness to interact with people based on vignettes of depression and schizophrenia, and attitudes toward workplace discrimination, using data from the British Social Attitudes Survey for comparison. CAMI scores improved between 2008 and 2023 (s.d. 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.31), but decreased since 2019 (P = 0.015). After improvements between 2009 and 2019, 2023 MAKS and RIBS scores no longer differed from 2009 scores, indicating decreases in stigma-related knowledge (MAKS scores declined 7.8%; P < 0.001) and willingness to interact (RIBS scores declined by 10.2%; P < 0.001) since 2019. Conversely, comparison with British Social Attitudes Survey data indicated that willingness to interact with people with depression and schizophrenia increased gradually between 2007, 2015 and 2023, and attitudes to workplace discrimination also improved. The lasting positive changes reflect support for non-discrimination and willingness to interact with someone after a sense of familiarity is evoked. Besides the end of Time to Change, interpretations for declines in other outcomes include the COVID-19 pandemic and economic stress.

An international, cross-sectional survey of preprint attitudes among biomedical researchers

Background Preprints are scientific manuscripts that are made available on open-access servers but are not yet peer-reviewed. Although preprints are becoming more prevalent, uptake is not optimal. Understanding researchers’ opinions and attitudes toward preprints is valuable to optimize their use. Understanding knowledge gaps and researchers’ attitudes toward preprinting can assist stakeholders, such as journals, funding agencies, and universities, to use preprints more effectively. Here, we aimed to collect perceptions and behaviours regarding preprints across an international sample of biomedical researchers. Methods Corresponding authors of articles published in biomedical research journals were identified from a random sample of journals from the MEDLINE database. Their names and email addresses were extracted to invite them to our anonymous, cross-sectional survey, which asked participants questions about their knowledge, attitudes, and opinions regarding preprinting. Results The survey was completed by 730 respondents providing a response rate of 3.20% and demonstrated a wide range of attitudes and opinions about preprints with authors from various disciplines and career stages worldwide. Most respondents were familiar with the concept of preprints but most had not previously posted one. The lead author of the project and journal policy had the greatest impact on decisions to post a preprint, whereas employers/research institutes had the least impact. Supporting open science practices was the highest ranked incentive, while increasing authors’ visibility was the highest ranked motivation for publishing preprints. Conclusions Although many biomedical researchers recognize the benefits of preprints, there is still hesitation among others to engage in this practice. This may be due to the general lack of peer review of preprints and little enthusiasm from external organizations such as journals, funding agencies, and universities. Future work is needed to determine optimal ways to improve researchers’ attitudes through modifications to current preprint systems and policies.

Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Knowledge, Training, and Attitudes

Purpose: This study examined speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') professional knowledge, training experiences, and attitudes in assessing and treating individuals with cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCIs). Understanding these concepts is necessary for evaluating SLPs' role in supporting individuals with CRCIs. Method: A web-based survey was completed by 147 SLPs over a 2-month period. The survey explored their professional knowledge, training, and attitudes regarding CRCI assessment and intervention. Results: Three quarters of participants reported some experience with individuals with CRCIs. Most participants reported that providing care for individuals with CRCIs was within the SLP scope of practice (97%) and an ethical responsibility (93%). Approximately 65% of participants completed some form of training for providing services for this population; 98% would pursue diagnostic training in the future, and 66% would pursue intervention training in the future. Regarding attitudes, 80% of participants shared that they were comfortable with the idea of providing cognitive-communication services to individuals with CRCIs, and almost all (97%) felt that cognitive-communication services were a medical necessity for this population. Additional analyses were conducted to assess the effect of years of experience on various aspects of professional knowledge and attitudes. Conclusions: SLPs were trained to assess and treat the cognitive-communication domains impacted by CRCIs. Recommendations for meeting this need are also discussed. Further research regarding the role of SLPs in the assessment and treatment of CRCIs is warranted.

Lyme disease in UK primary care: a knowledge, attitude and practice survey.

Lyme disease (LD) cases in the UK most commonly present within the primary care setting. Despite an upward trend of incidence, little is known regarding general practitioner (GP) experience with diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to describe baseline primary care clinician Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) in Scotland and England. Online KAP survey on Lyme disease for UK based practising GPs. An online KAP questionnaire was developed for use in UK primary care. The survey was distributed through UK based research networks, professional societies and via social media. 191 complete responses were analysed (England n=130, Scotland n=61). The Scotland-based respondent group had more relevant consultations in the previous 3 years. Respondents from Scotland demonstrated a greater awareness that erythema migrans (EM) is pathognomonic for Lyme disease and that serological testing of this patient group is not indicated. Less common cardiac and neurological symptoms were not as well associated with Lyme disease by both respondent groups for the former and England-based respondents for the latter. Prescribing according to the National institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance was identified in 70% of Scotland and 42% of England-based GP responses. Targeted resources may improve clinician confidence on exposure risk, symptom recognition, testing limitations and treatment dose and duration. Scotland-based respondents' better survey performance potentially reflects greater clinical exposure and public awareness of the disease, due to high endemicity within the nation.

Religiosity and Attitudes towards Robots: Results from a Global Survey

Religion is one lens in which people understand the world around them and interpret the world around them. However, it is unclear whether religion has an impact upon attitudes towards robots around the world. In this article, the authors investigate how an individual’s religiosity impacts upon perceptions of robots. The article investigates how an individual’s religiosity impacts attitudes towards robots, using data from a large-scale global survey of attitudes towards robots (N=1263). In order to investigate how religion impacts upon such perceptions, cluster, factor and regression analyses were used for data analysis. The findings illustrate that there are discernible clusters of individuals exhibiting different levels of religiosity and that these clusters have different perceptions of robots, showing as hypothesized, that more religious individuals are more likely to be robophobic than robophilic. The relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards robots is negative: less religious people show more positive attitudes towards robots. While there is clear indication that there is a relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards robots, religiosity does not have a particularly strong impact upon perceptions of robots. The analysis of the data illustrates that there are factors more clearly associated with perceptions of robots, meaning that while religiosity may have some impact on perceptions of robots, that there are more important attitudes and other factors that should be taken into consideration to encourage users to use robots in various service environments. In addition, in this particular research, there seems to be no notable relationship between perceptions of robots and demographics of individuals, illustrating that the age, gender, wealth, and education of an individual may not play a strong role in shaping perceptions of robots in service industries.

COVID‐19 Labor Market Protection and Support for the Welfare State: Job Retention Versus Job Loss in Four European Countries

ABSTRACTThe COVID‐19 pandemic presents a natural setting to study how labor market protection policies may influence welfare attitudes because while lockdowns and economic recession threatened millions of jobs, job retention schemes shielded many workers from unemployment. We investigate support for unemployment protection and the unemployed among people active in the labor force and participating in the Mannheim Corona Study in Germany, Coping with COVID‐19 in France, ResPOnsE in Italy, and the British Social Attitudes survey in Great Britain. Two‐way fixed effects analyses on the German data show that there was a general increase in respondents' support over the onset of the pandemic and that while job loss significantly boosted support, there was little attitudinal difference between those who experienced job retention and those who continued working. We confirm these patterns with cross‐sectional analyses in all four countries, providing comparative insight into attitudes across the largest European economies. Unemployment is materially similar to job retention, but because it is associated with higher support, we contend that nonmaterial factors such as risk perceptions may be consequential in influencing preference changes when individuals lose their jobs.

Who is fatigued? A repeated cross-sectional survey of officer attitudes towards people who use opioids, naloxone, and their role in responding to opioid overdoses

Many police departments have equipped their officers with naloxone as a promising response to the opioid crisis. Though research suggests police can effectively administer naloxone, recent studies suggest that officers may develop negative attitudes over time as they continually respond to overdoses. This has been described as a “compassion fatigue” effect. We investigate the compassion fatigue hypothesis with a repeated cross-sectional survey of officers in the Tempe, Arizona Police Department. We focus on three outcomes (1) perceptions of officers' role in responding to overdoses, (2) perceptions of naloxone related risk-compensation beliefs, and (3) stigmatizing perceptions of people who use opioids (PWUOs). We run one-way fixed effects regression models to assess if officer attitudes have changed over the study period. Then we run multivariate regression models to test whether officers' opioid overdose response frequency is associated with any of the three outcomes. The findings suggest officers have become more supportive of responding to overdoses but have developed more stigmatizing views of PWUOs over time. This warrants further research attention. However, opioid overdose response frequency was not associated with any of the outcomes. We conclude with a discussion of these findings and their implications for police involvement in the opioid overdose crisis.

Building capacity for inclusive informal STEM learning opportunities for autistic learners

BackgroundResearch is needed to better understand the specific challenges for autistic learners in informal STEM learning settings. This study aimed to increase inclusion in STEM museums, with a larger goal of increasing the impact (i.e., learning and application of knowledge during and after visits) of informal STEM learning settings for autistic youth. We conducted an online parent attitudes survey with 93 parents of autistic adolescents and 53 parents of adolescents in the general population to better understand the experiences of autistic adolescents when visiting STEM-related museums. Parent responses informed professional development training for museum staff at four partner museums, which taught strategies to better support autistic learners. Then, autistic adolescents (n = 20) and their parents were randomly assigned to visit one partner and one control museum. They were asked to report their experiences through an online survey and semi-structured interviews.ResultsParticipants who completed the parent attitudes survey indicated significantly lower inclusion, engagement, and general impact of STEM museum visits among autistic adolescents compared to the general population comparison group. Parents of adolescents who visited partner and control museums reported higher STEM impact during visits to partner museums; however, parent-reported inclusion, engagement, and general impact did not differ significantly between partner and control museums. Qualitative analysis identified four themes (Spectrum of Museum Impact; Adolescent-Environment Fit; Barriers to Engagement, and Barrier Breakers), providing context for quantitative findings.ConclusionsFindings underscore the need for increased inclusion for autistic individuals in informal STEM learning environments like museums. This project demonstrated feasibility of professional development training of forward-facing staff and identified several themes that should inform future efforts to improve inclusion in informal STEM learning settings.

A survey of attitudes toward and experiences with traditional Chinese medicines among people in Taiwan.

Despite numerous surveys on traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and their impact on people in Taiwan, only a few directly assessed the perspectives of the users and their experiences with the practice. In this study, we aimed to explore the attitudes, experiences, and understanding of TCMs, and also to identify the TCMs that are commonly preferred among people in Taiwan. We conducted an online survey among people in Taiwan to reflect the views of the general public on TCMs in 2022. Medical-related personnel were excluded. Question topics included experience, impressions, access, and expectations. There were 518 participants. More than 95% of them had taken TCMs. "Work gently" was the most common positive impression, and "Slow to take effect" was the most common negative impression. Among the over-the-counter TCMs that were taken by the participants, "Si Wu Tang," which is used for disorders in women, was the most common. The main expectations for TCMs were to help to improve daily health and prevent diseases. Although the participants were highly aware of TCMs, there was still room for improvement. For example, 30% of the participants still did not know that TCMs may have side effects. The people in Taiwan who participated in the survey had a relatively positive impression of and experience with TCMs, but there were still some cognitive blind spots that need to be filled. It is essential to strengthen the publicity and education about TCMs and improve the public's understanding and correct use of TCMs.

Gambling-related attitudes and dimensional structure of the GABS-15 in outpatient addiction care patients: associations with gambling disorder.

Individuals with gambling disorder (GD) harbor cognitive distortions and dysfunctional beliefs about gambling that may foster problematic gambling behaviour. Evidence on particularly detrimental attitudes and beliefs is however lacking. To close this knowledge gap, we analysed associations between gambling attitudes and beliefs (Gambling Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (GABS-15)) and severity of gambling disorder (DSM-5 criteria met) in a German cohort of 123 individuals receiving outpatient gambling treatment. Data from the "Katamnese-Study" covering a 36-months timeframe with 5 assessment points was pooled. The multidimensional structure of the GABS-15 was examined using explorative and confirmatory factor analyses, followed by mixed-effect regression models using different operationalizations of the GABS-15. A three-factorial structure comprising "attitudes while gambling", "sensation-seeking / excitement", and "gambling fallacies" demonstrated better fit indices than the GABS-15 sum score. Only the "gambling fallacies " factor (1.00, p<0.05; 15.36, p < 0.01) was significantly associated with increased severity of GD. As a one-dimensional conceptualization of gambling-related attitudes and beliefs might not sufficiently guide staff of outpatient treatment facilities regarding priority setting in gambling care, evidence on attitudes with particularly detrimental associations is highly warranted. Here, focussing on mitigating "gambling' fallacies" by tailored treatment strategies appears promising.

Improving obstructive sleep apnea competency of primary care clinicians through online education

ABSTRACT Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an often overlooked, widespread disease and a public health concern. Evidence-based practice guidelines do not exist to guide primary care clinicians' OSA screening practices. Clinicians must be competent in OSA; however, clinicians lack competency about this disease. Local problem: Elevated rates of undiagnosed OSA potentially exist in two rural and one suburban counties in Kansas, as indicated by the increased weight and elevated chronic disease prevalence in these counties' populations. Methods: A one-cohort, pretest–posttest, quasi-experimental design was used for this quality-improvement project implemented over 11 weeks. Clinicians' competencies on OSA were measured before and after the intervention using the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitude Survey. Intervention: A brief educational video on OSA was developed for this project. Definition, risk factors and complications, screening methods, definitive diagnosis, and treatment options were covered in this video. Results: Participants (N = 14) showed improved OSA competency after watching the educational video. Participants improved OSA competency after watching the interventional video (M = 16.3, SE = 0.194) versus preintervention (M = 14.2, SE = 0.318). Participants also improved OSA attitude scores postintervention. Conclusion: Primary care clinician OSA competency scores improved after engaging in a brief educational video intervention when measured using the OSA knowledge and attitude survey. Practicing clinicians can benefit from participating in education about the disease.

Navigating Food Fraud: A Survey of Nigerian Consumer Knowledge and Attitudes.

Food fraud presents a growing threat globally, impacting consumer health; food safety; and brand credibility. The key motivation for food fraud is usually an economic or financial advantage. Economically motivated food fraud (EMA) is the illegal deception, deliberate and intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a food product, which may pose a possible health risk to unsuspecting consumers. This study aims to assess the awareness and attitudes of Nigerian consumers towards food authenticity and the regulatory measures in place to combat food adulteration. The study comprised 2160 respondents who were asked about their knowledge of high-profile food fraud incidents, frequently adulterated products, and their opinions of the effects of food fraud and preventative measures. The findings of this study revealed that more than a third of respondents were unfamiliar with the term "food fraud". However, they were aware of local high-profile cases, such as "plastic rice" and counterfeit dairy products. Most participants relied on point-of-sale information for assessing food authenticity, with street vendors being viewed as potential sources of food adulteration. The study also found that more than half of the respondents were concerned about food fraud regardless of whether it involved local or imported products. A wide variety of food items were identified as prone to adulteration or fraudulent activity. These included alcoholic drinks, dairy products, honey, rice, and tomato paste, amongst others. These findings highlight the need for improved consumer awareness, regulatory effectiveness, and remediation efforts to combat food fraud in Nigeria.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of Italian dental students toward HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer and vaccination: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a leading cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC). This study aimed to carry out a Knowledge, Attitude and Perception survey on HPV infection, HPV+ OPSCC, and HPV vaccination among Italian dental students.MethodsThrough an online self-administered questionnaire consisting of 82 questions, data on dental students’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions concerning HPV+ OPSCC, infection and vaccination were acquired. A statistical analysis, based on their year of attendance (early career, from 1st to 3rd year vs. late career, from 4th to 6th year) was also conducted.ResultsA total of 412 dental students completed the questionnaire. Knowledge of HPV+ OPSCC was reported by 61% of early-career students and 73% of late-career students, with high awareness of the HPV-OPSCC correlation in both groups (85% vs. 89%, respectively). The percentage of correct responses regarding HPV infection knowledge was 61% for early-career and 73% for late-career students, while vaccine knowledge was 70% and 78%, respectively. Over 90% of students acknowledged the dentist’s role in educating patients about HPV and OPSCC, and attitudes toward discussing HPV and vaccination were positive. However, only about half would recommend the vaccine to either gender. Statistically significant differences were found between early- and late-career groups across all knowledge sections (p < 0.001), while no significant differences emerged for perception (p = 0.076) or attitude (p = 0.147).ConclusionsThe study reveals encouraging results but highlights significant gaps in dental students’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward HPV+ OPSCC, infection, and vaccination. Addressing these gaps through targeted education and training in dental curricula could improve HPV prevention awareness and patient education, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes.

Sociodemographic correlates of fear-related attitudes toward the wolf (Canis lupus lupus). A survey in southeastern Norway

The recent increase in the grey wolf Canis lupus population in Norway has led to an intense debate about the management of this species. A telephone survey of fear-related attitudes toward the wolf was conducted in four counties in south eastern Norway. 52% claimed that they not at all, or to a small degree, would become concerned about their own or their family’s safety when being outdoors if wolves were living in their area, while 31% said they clearly would become more concerned. 36% of the sample expressed that they definitely would become more careful when walking in the fields and forest, 25% partly agreed to this, while 38% said they would not become more careful. 25% said they were very much afraid of wolves, 30% were somewhat afraid, while 43% were not afraid at all. Generally, women, the elderly, persons with short education, and rural inhabitants expressed more negative, fear-related attitudes than did other sociodemographic groups. Parents with young children expressed more fear of wolves compared to equally old parents without children at home, but this finding applied only to residents in the city. People who had a dog in their household were less afraid of wolves than those who did not have a dog; this applied only to rural residents. In general, the level of self-reported fear and concern equals what has been found in Sweden and Finland, but the attitudes found in Norwegian rural areas were more negative than attitudes of rural residents in Sweden. The results are discussed on the background of evolutionary/genetic, cultural, and political influences.