title: Papanicolaou screening in Taiwan: perceived barriers and self-efficacy.
abstract: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in Taiwan, and frequency of screening remains low. We surveyed Taiwanese women about beliefs and practices related to cervical screening, searching for perceived barriers and self-efficacy using the transtheoretical model. We assessed demographics, 12 perceived barriers, and seven self-efficacy measures for 222 Taiwanese women. Data were analyzed descriptively and with multiple linear regression. Barriers related to worry, embarrassment, stigma, and the lack of female physicians were significant in the relapse stage. All self-efficacy measures were significant across various stages of change. Interventions should focus on relapsers and on information related to self-efficacy.
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada-Reno, NV 89557, USA. wctung@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Minggen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult