Montgomery Kymberlee, Smith-Glasgow Mary Ellen
Drexel University College of Medicine and College of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, USA.
Gend Med. 2012 Feb;9(1 Suppl):S55-66. doi: 10.1016/j.genm.2011.11.002.
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a known precursor of cervical cancer. Recent studies suggest a bimodal HPV prevalence for women in 2 age groups: 19 to 26 and 40 to 70. HPV and cervical cancer knowledge has yet to be investigated in the older population of women.
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the HPV and cervical cancer knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive practices in women in these 2 age groups.
This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design. A convenience sample of 300 women in 2 age groups was recruited from 3 ambulatory obstetrics and gynecology practices in Philadelphia, Pa. Participants completed the Awareness of HPV and Cervical Cancer Questionnaire to determine their HPV and cervical cancer knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive practices.
A total of 280 responses (131 for the age group 19-26 years and 149 for the age group 40-70 years) were received. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups in knowledge (P = 0.010) only, but not health beliefs (perceived susceptibility [P = 0.111] and perceived seriousness [P = 0.266]). Significant differences in select preventive practices were also noted between these 2 groups. These included Pap smear (P = 0.05), use of condoms (P = 0.002), and use of oral contraception (P < 0.001).
There is a remarkable need for age-appropriate HPV and cervical cancer awareness and education for women older than the age of 40. Women's health care providers are perfectly positioned to act as a catalyst to improve HPV and cervical cancer knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive practice to ensure optimal health promotion for all women.
生殖器人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染是美国最常见的性传播感染，也是已知的宫颈癌前体。最近的研究表明，两个年龄组的女性HPV患病率呈双峰分布：19至26岁和40至70岁。老年女性人群中HPV和宫颈癌知识尚未得到研究。
本研究的目的是评估和比较这两个年龄组女性的HPV和宫颈癌知识、健康信念及预防措施。
本研究采用横断面描述性设计。从宾夕法尼亚州费城的3家门诊妇产科诊所招募了两个年龄组的300名女性作为便利样本。参与者完成了HPV和宫颈癌知识问卷，以确定她们的HPV和宫颈癌知识、健康信念及预防措施。
共收到280份回复（19至26岁年龄组131份，40至70岁年龄组149份）。两组之间仅在知识方面存在显著差异（P = 0.010），但在健康信念方面（感知易感性[P = 0.111]和感知严重性[P = 0.266]）没有差异。这两组在某些预防措施方面也存在显著差异。这些措施包括巴氏涂片检查（P = 0.05）、使用避孕套（P = 0.002）和使用口服避孕药（P < 0.001）。
40岁以上女性非常需要针对其年龄的HPV和宫颈癌认识及教育。女性医疗保健提供者完全有能力成为提高HPV和宫颈癌知识、健康信念及预防措施的催化剂，以确保所有女性获得最佳的健康促进。
