title: 'I don't care whether it's HPV or ABC, I just want to know if I have cancer.' Factors influencing women's emotional responses to undergoing human papillomavirus testing in routine management in cervical screening: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore emotional responses, and predictors of negative reactions, among women undergoing human papillomavirus (HPV) tests in routine clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory qualitative interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large busy colposcopy clinic in a Dublin hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven women who had had an HPV DNA test in the previous 6 months following one or more low-grade cytology tests or treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using a thematic approach (Framework Analysis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women's emotional responses and predictors of negative emotional reactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For most women, having a test for high-risk HPV types generated little negative or positive emotional impact. Adverse emotional responses related to HPV infection rather than testing. Factors that influenced whether women experienced negative emotional responses were: concerns over abnormal cytology or diagnosis of CIN; HPV knowledge; awareness of HPV being sexually transmitted; awareness of HPV prevalence; and HPV information needs. Women's concerns about abnormal cytology/CIN dominated all other issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These qualitative data suggest that in the context of follow up of abnormal cytology or treatment for CIN, the emotional impact of HPV testing may be modest: women's primary concerns at this time relate to abnormal cytology/CIN.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry Ireland, Cork Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Prendiville
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Abnormal cytology; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; cervical screening; emotional responses; human papillomavirus testing; qualitative