Effects of a cognition-emotion focused program to increase public participation in Papanicolaou smear screening.
OBJECTIVE
Despite high incidence rates of cervical cancer in Korea, Papanicolaou (Pap) tests are not utilized as a preventive behavior. This study examined the effects of an emotion-cognition focused program on the decision of taking Pap tests in Korean women.


METHODS
A non-equivalent control group post-test only design was utilized.


METHODS
A convenience sample was randomly assigned to either experimental (N=48) or control group (N=48) after matching for education and age.


METHODS
Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test, Champion's Health Belief Model, and Self-Efficacy Scale were used. Intention and stage of adoption to take a Pap test were measured with single items.


RESULTS
Women in the experimental group had significantly higher scores on knowledge of cervical cancer (t=6.99, p<.001) and perceived benefits of Pap tests (t=2.91, p<.05), lower scores on procedural (t=-2.45, p<.05) and cognitive (t=-2.66, p<.01) barriers to testing. Improvement in self-efficacy (t=3.38, p<.01), strong intention to have the test (t=2.99, p<.01), and advanced stages of behavior adoption (chi2=12.93, p<.01) were also found.


CONCLUSIONS
Women's perspectives, attitudes of health care practitioners, and clinical environment need to be considered if change is to happen in women's preventive behavior related to Pap test screening.
Park
SoMi
S
Department of Nursing, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Kangwon-Do, Korea.
Chang
SoonBok
S
Chung
ChaeWeon
C
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003479:Curriculum; D003657:Decision Making; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data