Brief research report: uncertainty-inducing and reassuring facts about HPV: a descriptive study of French Canadian women.
We sought to describe information that makes women feel (1) uncertain and (2) reassured about their human papillomavirus (HPV) status and the potential health implications of an HPV DNA test result and (3) to examine information seeking after receiving their result. Thirty women (previously tested HPV negative) read factual information on HPV and cervical cancer and were asked which facts were uncertainty inducing and which were reassuring. Twenty-four facts reassured women of their HPV negative status, 11 facts made women feel uncertain, and 10 facts made them feel both. The most common reason for seeking information in the future was receiving a positive test result. The authors outline what specific facts about HPV health providers can emphasize to alleviate anxiety and encourage women to feel reassured of their low cancer risk following a negative test result.
Rosen
Natalie O
NO
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, B3A 1B1, Canada. natalie.rosen@mcgill.ca
Knäuper
Bärbel
B
Pagé
Gabrielle
G
Di Dio
Pasqualina
P
Morrison
Eleshia
E
Mayrand
Marie-Hélène
MH
Franco
Eduardo L
EL
Rosberger
Zeev
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010174:Pamphlets; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011792:Quebec; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards; D035501:Uncertainty; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology