Perceptions of Cervical Cancer Risk Among Young Women in Generation Y

This study examines the influence of perceptions of cervical cancer risk among young women in GenerationY. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM), a statistical model predicted which factors of perceived risk most influenced young women's attitudes and beliefs about cervical cancer and pap smear screening. The study population consisted of young women who, during the study, were members of Generation Y between the ages of 18 and 34 years old and participated in the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a survey on how Americans obtain and perceive their health information. This population was deemed especially relevant to this current study, as the new PPACA will help women in this group have increased rights to health care, including access to regular cervical cancer screenings and follow up treatments. A multinomial logistic regression was used to assess a subset of the survey population (N = 628) for the purpose of identifying how this population of young women perceived their cervical cancer risk and pap smear screening behavior. Findings revealed that young women were more likely to worry about their risk for cervical cancer if they had a pap smear 1 year ago or less (P=.034; B=1.875). These and additional results indicate the need for cervical cancer information to be tailored for younger women that acknowledge the concern for risk, and encourages compliance with recommendations from a trusted source; further examination of how perceptions of cervical cancer risk can affect the health beliefs of young women in Generation Y is needed.