Massad L Stewart, Verhulst Stephen J, Hagemeyer Matthew, Brady Patricia
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794-9640, USA.
J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2006 Oct;10(4):252-5. doi: 10.1097/01.lgt.0000225901.82831.1c.
To describe knowledge of the cervical cancer prevention process among rural and urban women referred for evaluation of abnormal cytology.
Women with abnormal screening cervical cytology attending university colposcopy clinics (n = 178) were asked about demographic factors and knowledge of Pap testing, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and risk factors for cervical cancer. Responses were tabulated, and correlations assessed.
Only 131 (74%) of 176 responding women understood that Pap tests evaluate the cervix, whereas 137 (78%) understood that Pap tests should be repeated at intervals of 1-3 years. The cancer screening function of a Pap test was identified by 122/177 (69%), but only 99 (56%) knew HPV is sexually transmitted and causes warts and premalignant changes. Rural residence was not associated with knowledge, but older women were more likely to know the nature of the Pap test (p =.005) and the meaning of an abnormal Pap test (p = .04). Women in higher income strata were more likely to understand the meaning of an abnormal Pap test (p = .03), the nature of HPV (p = .005), and risk factors for cervical cancer (p = .03). College graduates were better (p = .0005), and women of greater parity were less (p = .02) able than others to identify the nature of HPV, although neither differed from others in ability to answer other questions correctly (p > .1).
Income and education are better predictors of knowledge of the cervical cancer prevention process than rural residence. Higher rates of cervical cancer in rural areas may reflect lower educational attainment and lower income.
描述因细胞学异常前来评估的城乡女性对宫颈癌预防过程的了解情况。
询问在大学阴道镜诊所就诊的宫颈细胞学筛查异常的女性（n = 178）有关人口统计学因素以及对巴氏试验、人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染和宫颈癌危险因素的了解情况。对回答进行列表整理，并评估相关性。
在176名做出回应的女性中，只有131名（74%）了解巴氏试验是对宫颈进行评估，而137名（78%）了解巴氏试验应每隔1 - 3年重复进行。122/177名（69%）女性认识到巴氏试验的癌症筛查功能，但只有99名（56%）知道HPV是通过性传播的，可导致疣和癌前病变。农村居住情况与知识水平无关，但年龄较大的女性更有可能了解巴氏试验的性质（p = .005）以及巴氏试验异常的意义（p = .04）。高收入阶层的女性更有可能理解巴氏试验异常的意义（p = .03）、HPV的性质（p = .005）以及宫颈癌的危险因素（p = .03）。大学毕业生表现更好（p = .0005），多胎女性识别HPV性质的能力比其他人差（p = .02），尽管在正确回答其他问题的能力方面与其他人没有差异（p > .1）。
与农村居住情况相比，收入和教育程度是宫颈癌预防过程知识水平的更好预测指标。农村地区较高的宫颈癌发病率可能反映了较低的教育程度和收入水平。
