Women's understanding of abnormal cervical smear test results: a qualitative interview study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe how women interpret their experiences of diagnosis and treatment of a cervical abnormality and how healthcare services for such women can be improved.


METHODS
Qualitative study using detailed individual interviews.


METHODS
Australian gynaecology clinics.


METHODS
29 Women who had a cervical cytological abnormality and who attended a gynaecologist.


METHODS
Women's views on their diagnosis and their information needs.


RESULTS
Most women wanted to participate in decisions about their care but found it difficult to get the information they required from doctors because they were confused by what their doctors told them and felt unable to ask questions in the consultation. Medical terms such as wart virus and precancer were difficult to understand. Not being able to see their cervix also made it hard for women to understand what their abnormality meant and what treatment entailed. Most women tried to make sense of their abnormality in the context of their everyday lives. For some women their gynaecological care was not consistent with the way they understood their abnormality.


CONCLUSIONS
The inherent power structure of medical practice combined with time pressures often make it difficult for doctors to give the detailed information and reassurance patients need when a diagnosis is distressing or when investigation and treatment are strange and upsetting.
Kavanagh
A M
AM
Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia.
Broom
D H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013021:South Australia; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology*