Wong L P, Wong Y L, Low W Y, Khoo E M, Shuib R
Medical Education and Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Singapore Med J. 2009 Jan;50(1):49-53.
Cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women worldwide. Despite the existence of effective screening using Pap smear, the uptake of screening is poor. A qualitative study was undertaken using face-to-face in-depth interviews to investigate knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on cervical cancer screening of Malaysian women.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Malaysian women aged 21-56 years and who have never had a Pap smear test, with the aim to explore their knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and its screening.
A lack of knowledge on cervical cancer and the Pap smear test was found among the respondents. Many women did not have a clear understanding of the meaning of an abnormal cervical smear and the need for the early detection of cervical cancer. Many believe the purpose of the Pap smear test is to detect existing cervical cancer, leading to the belief that Pap smear screening is not required because the respondents had no symptoms. Despite considerable awareness of a link between cervical cancer and sexual activity, as well as the role of a sexually-transmitted infection, none of the respondents had heard of the human papillomavirus.
The findings highlight the importance of emphasising accurate information about cervical cancer and the purpose of Pap smear screening when designing interventions aimed at improving cervical cancer screening for Malaysian women.
宫颈癌是全球女性中最常见的癌症之一。尽管存在使用巴氏涂片进行有效筛查的方法，但筛查的接受度却很低。本研究采用面对面深入访谈的定性研究方法，调查马来西亚女性对宫颈癌筛查的知识、态度和信念。
对20名年龄在21至56岁之间且从未进行过巴氏涂片检查的马来西亚女性进行深入访谈，旨在探索她们对宫颈癌及其筛查的知识和认识。
受访者对宫颈癌和巴氏涂片检查缺乏了解。许多女性对宫颈涂片异常的含义以及早期发现宫颈癌的必要性没有清晰的认识。许多人认为巴氏涂片检查的目的是检测现有的宫颈癌，导致她们认为因为自己没有症状所以不需要进行巴氏涂片筛查。尽管受访者对宫颈癌与性行为之间的联系以及性传播感染的作用有相当的认识，但没有一个人听说过人乳头瘤病毒。
研究结果凸显了在设计旨在提高马来西亚女性宫颈癌筛查率的干预措施时，强调关于宫颈癌的准确信息以及巴氏涂片筛查目的的重要性。
