Healthcare professional knowledge

Research shows that health care professionals recommendations and attitudes have a direct impact on public engagement with vaccination and screening. It is vital that they are well informed in order to best advise the public and to counteract the feelings of stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections.

HPV and HPV Vaccination

Following the BMJ article in 2015 Dr Sue Sherman was commissioned by Nursing in Practice, a bi-monthly publication with a circulation of 12,000 primary care nurses, to write an article with learning points about HPV. The PLOS One paper was featured in the British Journal of School Nursing Research Roundup, a peer-reviewed journal promoting excellence in school nursing, for July 2018. Forthcoming research with health care professionals reveals that knowledge about the health sequelae for males is poorer than for females. HPV Action are interested in doing a joint press release when this is presented at a conference in December.

HPV and cervical screening

As the considerable changes to the NHS cervical screening programme continue to be rolled out, the smear takers training materials need updating. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has provided my research on health care professionals knowledge and the research on women’s awareness and attitudes towards HPV primary cervical screening to Public Health England to assist them in this task.