University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2021 Jan 14;61(4):E584-E592. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2020.61.4.1521. eCollection 2020 Dec.
This study comes at an opportune time due to recent introduction of the National Cervical Cancer Screening programme in Malta. It aims to assess the knowledge of 25-64 year-old females on cervical cancer and attitudes towards screening.
A cross-sectional, telephone-based, quantitative survey conducted in 2017.
The survey tool was based on the Cervical Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire and was carried out among a random stratified sample of females of 25-64 years, resident in Malta. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied.
407 females (85% response rate) were interviewed. Knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms was found to be significantly higher in women with a higher level of education (p < 0.001). Cervical screening was attended every 3 years by 69% of respondents. Regular attendees were more likely to have children (p = 0.001), have experienced cancer in a close family member (p = 0.002), and were between 35-44 and 45-54 years old (p < 0.001). The main reasons for non-attendance were embarrassment, fear of the test and fear of the result.
This research provides a better understanding of who are the vulnerable groups with respect to cervical cancer knowledge and screening attendance. Improving health literacy and implementing health promotion campaigns will improve early symptom recognition, risk factor knowledge and attendance for screening.
由于马耳他最近推出了国家宫颈癌筛查计划，本研究应运而生。本研究旨在评估 25-64 岁女性对宫颈癌的认知水平以及对筛查的态度。
2017 年进行的一项横断面、基于电话的定量调查。
该调查工具基于宫颈癌意识测量问卷，在马耳他居住的 25-64 岁女性中进行了随机分层抽样。应用多变量逻辑回归模型。
共采访了 407 名女性（85%的回复率）。发现受教育程度较高的女性对宫颈癌危险因素和症状的认知明显更高（p < 0.001）。69%的受访者每 3 年进行一次宫颈筛查。定期接受筛查的女性更有可能有孩子（p = 0.001）、有近亲患癌症（p = 0.002），年龄在 35-44 岁和 45-54 岁之间（p < 0.001）。不参加的主要原因是尴尬、对检查的恐惧和对结果的恐惧。
本研究更好地了解了在宫颈癌知识和筛查参与方面属于弱势群体的人群。提高健康素养并实施健康促进活动将提高对早期症状的认识、危险因素知识和筛查参与度。
