title: Women's knowledge and attitudes toward anal Pap testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to determine women's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and anal cancer and knowledge and attitudes toward the anal Pap test.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 370 women from the general population 21 years or older completed a 48-question preintervention survey; read an informational pamphlet about anal cancer, HPV, and anal Pap tests; and then completed a 21-question postintervention survey in Augusta, Atlanta, and Savannah, GA. The survey assessed their knowledge about anal cancer, HPV, and the anal Pap test and determined their attitudes toward the anal Pap test. Only preintervention results were considered in this article. Descriptive statistics were determined for all variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 17.6% of women had previously heard of anal Pap tests, and the majority knew nothing (48.9%) or only a little (38.5%) about anal cancer. Yet, most women (78.6%) knew that anal Pap tests help to prevent anal cancer, and 86.2% knew that anal Pap tests are not only for people who have anal sex. Only a minority of women recognized known risk factors for anal cancer. Lack of knowledge about anal Pap tests (43.8%), pain or discomfort (41.3%), cost (24.0%), and embarrassment (21.2%) were the main reasons cited for not wanting an anal Pap test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most women had limited knowledge about anal cancer and anal Pap tests and few recognized known risk factors for anal cancer, women were receptive to screening. Further implementation of anal Pap testing for women may be improved by understanding women's limited knowledge and concerns.
authors.affiliation: 1Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 2Department of Biostatistics, 3Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Daron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Porscha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dickens
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kabaria
authors.forename: Chi-Son
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steelman
authors.forename: Fiyinfoluwa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fawole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000379:methods*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult