Increasing pap smear utilization among Samoan women: results from a community based participatory randomized trial.
BACKGROUND
We tested the effectiveness of a theory-guided, culturally tailored cervical cancer education program designed to increase Pap smear use among Samoan women residing in the U.S. Territory of American Samoa.


METHODS
We used a two-group, pretest-posttest design. The sample comprised 398 Samoan women age 20 and older recruited from Samoan churches. Women in the intervention group received a culturally tailored cervical cancer education program in three weekly sessions. The primary outcome was self-reported receipt of a Pap smear.


RESULTS
Overall, there was a significant intervention effect, with intervention compared with control group women twice (adjusted odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-3.2, p < .01) as likely to self-report Pap smear use at the posttest.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support the efficacy of the multifaceted, theory-guided, culturally tailored community-based participatory cervical cancer education program for Samoan women in effecting positive changes in Pap smear use and cervical cancer related knowledge and attitudes.
Mishra
Shiraz I
SI
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland Statewide Health Network, 401 W Redwood Street, Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. smishra@som.umaryland.edu
Luce
Pat H
PH
Baquet
Claudia R
CR
D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010139:Pacific Islands; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018947:Samoa; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*