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Abstract #157122

Robert M. Hamm, PhD¹, Ellen Daley, PhD², Pamina M. Gorbach, MHS, DrPH³, Katy Duncan Smith, MS¹, Robert J. McDermott, PhD², Kay Perrin², Bita Amani, MHS³, and Peter R. Kerndt, MD, MPH⁴. (1) Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 900 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (2) Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, (813) 974-8518, edaley@hsc.usf.edu, (3) Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 957353, 10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7353, (4) Sexually Transmitted Disease Program, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 2615 South Grand Ave, Room 500, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Objective: To examine knowledge of own HR-HPV status in women tested for HR-HPV.

Methods: Women tested for HR-HPV (270 in Oklahoma, 137 in California, and 154 in Florida) completed interviews addressing demographics, HPV knowledge, and own HR-HPV status. Multiple logistic regression predicted the accuracy of women's knowledge of own HR-HPV status.

Results: 33% of participants were white, 21% African American, 21% Native American, 12% Asian, and 11% Hispanic. 63% of participants tested positive for HR-HPV (OK: 58.5%; CA: 41.6%; FL: 89.0%; variation due to different clinics and recruitment protocols). Among HR-HPV negative participants, false positive beliefs were rare (OK: 5.4%; CA: 2.5%; FL: 11.8%). In multiple logistic regression, younger women were more likely to wrongly state they had HR-HPV (OR=0.926, p=0.045). Among HR-HPV positive participants, false negative beliefs were common (OK: 57.0%; CA: 35.1%; FL: 24.1%). Younger women (OR=0.954, p=0.007) and those with lower HPV knowledge (OR=0.863, p<0.001) were more likely not to recognize that they had HR-HPV.

Discussion: In this 2003-2006 sample from 3 states and 5 racial/ethnic groups, inaccurate understanding of actual results of HR-HPV DNA tests was seen. That the false negative beliefs were far more common than the false positive beliefs, at each site, indicates a general bias toward not recognizing one has HR-HPV. The magnitude of the bias far exceeded the differences due to age and HPV knowledge. Possible explanations include patient's denial and physician's insufficient communication with patient.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize women’s tendency not to comprehend they have a positive HR HPV test result.
• List the states in which this has been demonstrated.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, STD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.