Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114885

Ellen M. Daley, PhD, MPH¹, Karen M. Perrin, PhD, MPH, RN², Robert J. McDermott, PhD³, Cheryl Vamos², Trisha E. Mueller, BS⁴, Holly Rayko, MA⁵, Jennifer L. Packing-Ebuen, MA⁶, and Mary McFarlane, PhD⁷. (1) Dept. of Community and Family Health College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-974-8518, edaley@hsc.usf.edu, (2) Dept. of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC-56, Tampa, FL 33612, (3) Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health; Florida Prevention Research Center, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612-3805, (4) College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, (5) USF Student Health Services, 4202 East Fowler Ave., SHS 100, Tampa, FL 33620, (6) Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, 8068 N. 56th St., Tampa, FL 33617, (7) Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-44, Atlanta, GA 30333

Background: Receiving an abnormal test result for cervical cancer screening can be a highly emotional experience for women, especially when coupled with a diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Objective: The purpose of this study was to classify women's emotional responses following HPV diagnosis and assess the impact of diagnosis on attitudes and behaviors. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 50 women recently diagnosed with HPV, then transcribed, coded and analyzed with Ethnograph.® Subsequently, 160 HPV+ women completed a written survey of HPV-related attitudes and behaviors. Results: Whereas anticipated findings related to stigma (of having an STI), fear (elevated risk of cervical cancer), and other negative emotions were confirmed, HPV diagnoses also raised concerns about pregnancy intentions, the credibility of information sources, including the Internet, perceptions of risk, partner disclosure, and future intentions about screening practices. Moreover, some women were unable to articulate the relationship between their HPV specific diagnosis (high risk type vs. low risk type) and future risk status. Discussion: Confusion about actual HPV type and risk status may be a consequence of the plethora of negative emotions generated by diagnosis. The availability of HPV information of questionable or unknown validity may contribute further to women's misconceptions about HPV's consequences, including implications for sexual behavior and need for future screening. Conclusions: Although HPV's various clinical manifestations make it a complex virus, it is incumbent upon practitioners and educators to develop, test, and convey appropriate and consistent educational messages about HPV that reflect state-of-the-art knowledge.

Learning Objectives:

• •To explain why receiving an HPV-related diagnosis can create confusion and distress in women.
• •To identify the range of reactions women who are recently diagnosed with HPV experience.
• •To discuss the need for translation and dissemination of effective HPV educational messages.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation