Impact of HPV Testing on Women's Anxiety and Concern After Abnormal Cervical Smear Results
Author Information
Author(s): Esther Maissi, Theresa Marteau, Matthew Hankins, Sue Moss, Rosa Legood, Alastair Gray
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
Raised levels of anxiety, distress, and concern will no longer be evident 6 months after the receipt of borderline or mildly dyskaryotic cervical smear test results.
Conclusion
Six months after receiving abnormal smear test results, anxiety and distress were no longer present, but concern remained elevated, especially in women who did not undergo HPV testing.
Supporting Evidence
- Anxiety and distress were significantly lower at the 6-month follow-up compared to immediately after receiving abnormal results.
- Concern about test results remained elevated in women who were HPV positive or untested.
- Perceived risk of developing cervical cancer was a strong predictor of concern at follow-up.
Takeaway
Women who got abnormal cervical test results felt less anxious after six months, but they still worried about their results, especially if they didn't get tested for HPV.
Methodology
A prospective questionnaire study with a 6-month follow-up assessing anxiety, distress, and quality of life in women with abnormal smear test results.
Potential Biases
Women from ethnic minorities and those with lower education levels were under-represented in the sample.
Limitations
27% of women did not complete the follow-up questionnaire, potentially under-representing anxiety and concern levels.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 18 and older who underwent cervical smear tests, with varying HPV test results.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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