title: Primary HPV DNA based cervical cancer screening at 25 years: Views of young Australian women aged 16-28 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Revised Australian guidelines have been announced under the Renew(®) program to commence screening at 25 years of age with HPV testing in 5-yearly intervals, in 2017. We conducted a study of young Victorian women to assess attitudes towards a change in cervical screening practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was conducted of young women aged 16-28 years enrolled in the Young Female Health Initiative (YFHI) study at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, to assess attitudes towards delaying the age of cervical screening, widening screening intervals and screening with HPV DNA testing, prior to the announcement of the renewal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 149 respondents (response rate 75%), mean age was 23.2 (range 16-27) years. Most (85/131, 65%) were concerned about delaying the age of cervical screening until 25 years. The majority (79% (106/135) were willing to undertake primary screening with HPV testing, whilst 66% (88/133) were willing to undertake HPV testing from 25 years, only 34% (45/132) were willing to undertake such screening every five years. Those willing to change screening practice were more likely to perceive that people important to them would expect them to do so; to have been vaccinated; and to value the importance of national guidelines (p≤0.05). While 69% (95/136) of participants indicated that a positive HPV test would be a source of worry, 76% (103/136) reported they would not feel ashamed about it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeted health campaigns are needed to address the concerns of young women prior to the introduction of new cervical screening guidelines in 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; Dysplasia Unit, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; Department of Gynaecology, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: yasmin.jayasinghe@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.affiliation: Western Health, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rangiah
authors.affiliation: Melbourne EpiCentre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Victoria Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorelik
authors.affiliation: Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
authors.affiliation: Bone and Mineral Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wark
authors.affiliation: Women's Centre for Infectious Disease, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; Department of Microbiology, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; Women's Centre for Infectious Disease, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia; Department of Microbiology, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Garland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D061809:Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: Cervical cancer; Cervical screening; HPV testing; Renew; Theory of planned behavior; Young Female Health Initiative (YFHI); Young women