Knowledge, Attitude, and Awareness towards Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Undergraduate Healthcare Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Objective: Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in facilitating the uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). One of the key barriers to PrEP implementation is insufficient provider knowledge, which may stem from inadequate coverage of PrEP in undergraduate healthcare curricula. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and awareness toward PrEP among healthcare students.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2024 using an online self-administered questionnaire. The survey targeted undergraduate students in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing programs at a public university in Malaysia. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to evaluate PrEP-related knowledge, attitudes, and awareness using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.
Results: A total of 399 students completed the questionnaire. About two-fifths of students (40.9%) demonstrated poor knowledge of PrEP, and the majority (67.2%) exhibited a neutral attitude, suggesting uncertainty about PrEP’s safety and clinical utility. The mean knowledge score was 5.67±2.26 (range: 0-10), and the mean attitude score was 21.31±3.13 (range: 6-30). Final-year students had higher knowledge levels compared to first-year students (p-value<0.001), while attitudes did not differ across sociodemographic variables. The majority of respondents were aware of the PrEP concept (70.4%), but less than half (44.9%) were aware of the local PrEP guidelines.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for comprehensive and early integration of PrEP-related content into healthcare education. Addressing identified knowledge gaps through targeted curriculum enhancements may better prepare future healthcare providers to support PrEP implementation.
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