title: Adverse psychologic consequences of positive cytologic cervical screening.
abstract: Cervical cancer is still widely prevalent in the female population. This study explores the relationship of cervical cancer screening, positive versus negative Papanicolaou's test results, and psychologic status among lower-income minority women. All patients were interviewed 3 months after they had received initial test results. One hundred six women with normal Papanicolaou's test results were compared with 118 women who were referred for colposcopic examination for follow-up of positive test results. Women with positive Papanicolaou's-test results showed statistically significant elevations in worries about cancer and impairments in mood, daily activities, sexual interest, and sleep patterns. More fine-grained analyses revealed that the effects of positive results were most pronounced among those women who did not comply with colposcopy (n = 53). These findings suggest that lack of compliance with follow-up may maintain high levels of uncertainty about disease and may interfere with successful psychologic adaptation. Health education targeted to psychologically vulnerable individuals may reduce psychologic distress and enhance compliance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cheltenham, PA 19012.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarborough
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanjani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology