260994 Confusion regarding cervical cancer screening: Pap smear knowledge among three high-risk populations of women

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Elizabeth Baker, MPH, CPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erica Hesch Anstey, MA, CLC , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie Kolar, MSPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Cheryl A. Vamos, PhD, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Karen Perrin, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Background: Cervical cancer mortality in the U.S. is rare in the general population due to effective screening efforts and should decrease even further with the introduction of two FDA-approved HPV vaccines. However, disparities in prevention efforts and outcomes among high-risk groups remain. Furthermore, it is unclear whether women's Pap smear knowledge has improved despite public health advances.

Objective: To explore women's Pap smear knowledge among three high-risk populations over time.

Methods: Three groups of high-risk women completed identical surveys assessing Pap smear knowledge: 154 HPV+ women (pre-vaccine, 2005-2006), 276 college women (post-vaccine, 2008), and 711 minority college women (post-vaccine, 2011). Frequencies were employed to describe differences.

Results: Although the majority of the women in all three studies (75%-84%) correctly reported that the Pap smear is a test for cervical cancer, a considerable proportion from each population believed the Pap smear tests for HPV (64%-77%), vaginal infections (59%-74%), yeast infections (49%-66%), gonorrhea (31%-54%), herpes, (30%-51%), HIV/AIDS (14%-29%), and pregnancy (9%-11%).

Conclusions: Women receiving Pap smear screening lack adequate knowledge of its purpose, which may subsequently result in women foregoing other appropriate testing. In addition, recent changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines may be confusing. Understanding the purpose of Pap smear screening has immediate and long-term consequences affecting women's health across the lifespan. Identifying misconceptions about cervical cancer screening that may be detrimental to women's health can assist practitioners in designing clear and consistent health education messages.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
(1) Describe the differences in Pap smear knowledge among three high-risk female populations. (2) Identify misconceptions about cervical cancer screening that may be detrimental to women’s health. (3) Discuss the need for public health education efforts to address confusion regarding cervical cancer screening.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a research associate on these studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

Back to: 2058.0: Women's health across the lifespan