Knowledge regarding human papillomavirus and cervical cancer prevention among medical students from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Thailand. General practitioners, within their primary healthcare role, play a vital role in the cervical cancer screening program, as they are the healthcare professionals most easily accessible to the general population. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening among last-year medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among sixth-year medical students using an electronic self-administered questionnaire. The two-part questionnaire comprised demographic data and 12 true/false questions that assessed knowledge regarding HPV infection, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening recommendations. Pilot testing revealed a high Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability coefficient. RESULTS: A 67% response rate was achieved. Among the 198 respondents, only one (0.5%) student correctly answered over 80% of the questions while most respondents (172, 71.7%) correctly answered less than 60% of the questions. Less than half of the respondents correctly identified crucial aspects such as the primary cause of cervical cancer, recommended vaccination age, cytology sensitivity compared to HPV testing, and the recommended screening frequency for average-risk women. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a significant lack of comprehension among Thai medical students concerning HPV infection, vaccination, and cervical cancer screening guidelines. Encouraging educational enhancement, effective communication, and heightened awareness of these crucial topics within the medical school curriculum are imperative.

Acceptability of telemedicine for follow up after contraceptive implant initiation at an obstetrics and gynecologic training center.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has become a popular adjunct to in-person visits, including for family planning services. This study determined the proportion of clients participated in telemedicine services and the association between sociodemographic factors and telemedicine participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adverse effects within the first seven days post-insertion were also reported. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study considered data from all women initiating contraceptive implantation between June 2020 and August 2021 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Clients were offered the following two options for follow-up visits: in-person or communication via an online LINE® Official Account (LINE® OA), a free chat application widely used among the Thais. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between socio-demographic factors and telehealth usage. RESULTS: In total, 574 of 947 (60.6%) clients participated in telemedicine follow-up services during the period considered. A significant association between telemedicine usage and the following were observed: the peak of second wave COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, using the period preceding the second wave as a reference [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.96)]; participants receiving governmental benefits for contraceptive implant payment (aOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.86-5.60), and timing of contraceptive implant(s) initiation, using interval insertion as a reference for which aORs of postpartum and immediate postpartum insertions were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43-0.90) and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.24-0.52), respectively. Significant ecchymosis at the insertion site was observed in 13.1% of participants. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the significance of telemedicine during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in facilitating contraceptive implant initiation. Our data show a significant increase in the uptake and utilization of telemedicine during the pandemic's peak. The data also shows that during the period of Thailand's second COVID-19 epidemic, government benefits for contraceptive implant payment, and the timing of contraceptive implant initiation, are significantly associated with telemedicine use. This finding supports the continued use of telemedicine in healthcare, particularly for services like family planning, where remote follow-ups can provide safe, efficient, and timely care.