Awareness, experiences and needs of women with human papillomaviruses associated with malignant neoplasms

Humani papilomavirusi (HPV) su naziv za skupinu vrlo raširenih virusa koji inficiraju kožu i sluznice. Infekcija HPV-om, najčešća virusna spolno prenosiva bolest, prenosi se različitim oblicima spolnog odnosa sa inficiranom osobom, kontaktom "s kože na kožu ili sluznice" sa inficiranom osobom, kontaminiranim predmetima i površinama, te tijekom porođaja. Postoji više od 200 poznatih genotipova HPV-a, no nemaju svi genotipovi isti potencijal izazvati maligne promjene u ljudskim stanicama. Dijele se na visokorizične i niskorizične genotipove. Liječenje i dijagnoza malignih i premalignih lezija predstavlja veliko psihološko i tjelesno opterećenje. Primarna prevencija protiv HPV-a je cjepivo, potrebno je istaknuti i važnost odgovornog spolnog ponašanja, te opasnosti promiskuiteta, jedan od najvažnijih predisponirajučih čimbenika za nastanak infekcije. Aktivna infekcija povezana je s visokorizičnim tipovima HPV-a, kod kojih virus uzrokuje promjene u inficiranim stanicama koje mogu rezultirati intraepitelnom neoplazijom penisa, uretre, mjehura, vagine, vulve ili vrata maternice. Zbog najčešćeg javljanja u reproduktivnoj dobi, liječenje je kompleksno i zahtjeva suradnju multidisciplinarnog tima. Istraživanje o informiranosti, iskustvima i potrebama žena s humanim papilomavirusima povezanim s malignim neoplazmama, trajalo je u periodu od 18. srpnja 2023. godine do 20. kolovoza 2023. godine. Anketa je provedena putem Google Form obrasca i u njoj je sudjelovalo 167 sudionica s HPV infekcijom. Istraživanje pokazuje djelomičnu informiranost žena o vlastitoj dijagnozi, iskustva ovise o stupnju bolesti, a od zdravstvenih djelatnika pacijentice očekuju bolju informiranost i dostupnost. Žene s HPV infekcijom bi trebalo dodatno educirati o HPV infekciji putem zdravstvenih djelatnika. Najizazovnije područje rada za medicinske sestre/tehničare su onkološke bolesti. Pacijenticama s potvrđenim karcinomom medicinska sestra/tehničar mora pružiti podršku u najtežim i najintimnijim trenucima liječenja malignih bolesti. Tijekom liječenja, medicinska sestra/tehničar mora imati vještine da u isto vrijeme predstavlja iscjelitelja, pomoćnika, njegovatelja i psihoterapeuta.Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the name for a group of very widespread viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. HPV infection, the most common viral sexually transmitted disease, is transmitted not only by various forms of sexual intercourse with an infected person, but also by "skin-to-skin or mucous membrane" contact with an infected person, contaminated objects and surfaces, and during childbirth. There are more than 200 known subtypes of HPV, but not all subtypes have the same potential to cause malignant changes in human cells. They are divided into high-risk and low-risk genotypes. The treatment and diagnosis of malignant and premalignant lesions represents a great psychological and physical burden. The primary prevention against HPV is the vaccine, it is necessary to highlight the importance of responsible sexual behavior and the danger of promiscuity, one of the most important predisposing factors for the onset of infection. Active infection is associated with high-risk types of HPV, in which the virus causes changes in infected cells that can result in intraepithelial neoplasia of the penis, urethra, bladder, vagina, vulva, or cervix. Due to the most frequent occurrence in the reproductive age, the treatment is complex and requires the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team. Research on information, experiences and needs of women with human papillomaviruses associated with malignant neoplasms lasted from July 18, 2023 to August 20, 2023. The survey was conducted via a Google Form and 167 participants with HPV infection took part in it, via social networks. The research shows that women are partially informed about their own diagnosis, their experiences depend on the degree of the disease, and they expect better information and availability from healthcare workers. Women should be further educated about HPV infection by healthcare professionals. The most challenging field of work for nurses/technicians is oncology. A nurse/technician must provide support to patients with confirmed cancer in the most difficult and intimate moments of treatment for malignant diseases. During treatment, the nurse/technician must have the skills to be a healer, helper, caregiver and psychotherapist at the same time