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. 2025 May 22:6:1604925.
doi: 10.3389/froh.2025.1604925. eCollection 2025.

Knowledge of HPV and its association with oropharyngeal cancer among dental students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Khaled Albusairi  1 , Badriyah Mandani  1 , Ward Bouresly  1 , Yash Brahmbhatt  2 , Hend Alqaderi  3   4 , Hesham Alhazmi  5   6
Affiliations

Knowledge of HPV and its association with oropharyngeal cancer among dental students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Khaled Albusairi et al. Front Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a significant risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), yet dental students' knowledge of this association varies widely. Given the critical role dentists play in early detection and prevention, understanding their level of knowledge is essential. This study systematically reviews existing research to assess dental students' awareness of HPV and its link to OPC.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies published up to August 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate study quality. A random effects model was applied to calculate pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Sixteen studies, comprising 6,345 participants, were included. The pooled analysis showed that 69% of dental students had general knowledge of HPV (range: 56%-96.5%; 95% CI: 0.56-0.81), while 77% recognized its association with OPC (range: 18%-96.4%; 95% CI: 0.63-0.89). Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (Q = 646.34, P < 0.001 for HPV; Q = 804.07, P < 0.001 for HPV-OPC).

Conclusion: Knowledge gaps among dental students may hinder prevention efforts. Standardized education in dental curricula is crucial to ensure future dentists are well-prepared to address HPV-related conditions and promote early detection in clinical practice.

Keywords: HPV awareness; HPV-related cancers; dental education; dental students; human papillomavirus; knowledge assessment; oropharyngeal cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Funnel plot assessing publication bias for studies reporting general knowledge of HPV among dental students.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Funnel plot assessing publication bias for studies evaluating dental students’ knowledge of the association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of the estimate effect of human papillomavirus knowledge questions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot diagram of the estimate effect of the association of human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancers questions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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