title: Use of Psychosocial Effects of Abnormal Pap Smears Questionnaire (PEAPS-Q) in a Community Hospital Colposcopy Clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to describe psychosocial distress using the Psychosocial Effects of Abnormal Pap Smears Questionnaire (PEAPS-Q), a 14-item, validated measure of anxiety and concern.
  
  
  METHODS
  On presentation, a total of 142 subjects were given the PEAPS-Q and a demographic questionnaire (April 1997-June 1998), both of which were completed prior to departure. Subjects were excluded for pregnancy, depression, or anxiety disorder. One hundred subjects remained for analysis using Epilnfo 6 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A PEAPS-Q score greater than 2.5 indicated the presence of psychosocial distress. Highest scores on the PEAPS-Q individual items were attributed to worry over developing cancer (57%; mean score, 3.18); to feeling tense during colposcopy (49%; mean score, 2.75); and to discomfort during the procedure (47%; mean score, 2.76). Seventy-three percent of subjects scored at least one item at 3 or greater.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PEAPS-Q revealed significant psychosocial distress focused on concern over developing cancer and on procedural discomfort. The data will be useful in providing focused patient education and counseling and in improving clinic practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Stinnett