Department of Sociology, University of York, York, UK.
Department of Nursing, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
Psychooncology. 2023 May;32(5):721-729. doi: 10.1002/pon.6117. Epub 2023 Mar 3.
Cervical cancer remains a significant health threat amongst women globally despite most cervical cancers being preventable through screening and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination. With the introduction of HPV testing and vaccination, evidence suggests that the frequency of cervical screening for women can be reduced. However, there is limited evidence on women's attitudes to possible changes to the cervical screening programme. This study explored attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of women in the United Kingdom (UK) regarding potential changes to the National Cervical Screening Programme.
Forty-four women were interviewed between November 2018 and March 2019. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.
Most participants were opposed to any reduction in cervical screening frequency. Reasons included perceptions that disease would develop undetected, disempowerment, increased anxiety, reduced motivation to attend, and inefficient use of health care resources. Women perceived that they were ill-informed about the reasons for the proposed change, and that access to evidence for the basis of proposed changes may persuade them to accept reduced screening frequency. Women believed that cervical screening is a test for cancer and that HPV vaccination does not provide reliable protection against cervical cancer. These beliefs suggest that women's perception that they require more information about the basis for reduced screening frequency is correct.
Any changes to cervical screening frequency need to ensure public support and trust through a robust public health initiative clearly identifying the rationale for any changes.
尽管大多数宫颈癌可通过筛查和人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗接种来预防，但宫颈癌仍然是全球女性面临的重大健康威胁。随着 HPV 检测和疫苗接种的引入，有证据表明，女性进行宫颈癌筛查的频率可以降低。然而，关于女性对宫颈癌筛查计划可能发生变化的态度的证据有限。本研究探讨了英国（UK）女性对国家宫颈癌筛查计划可能发生变化的态度、看法和信念。
2018 年 11 月至 2019 年 3 月期间，对 44 名女性进行了访谈。采用反思性主题分析来确定主要主题。
大多数参与者反对任何减少宫颈癌筛查频率的做法。原因包括认为疾病会在未被发现的情况下发展、感到被剥夺权力、增加焦虑、降低就诊动机和对卫生保健资源的低效利用。女性认为她们对提议的改变的原因了解不足，并且可以获取有关提议改变基础的证据可能会说服她们接受减少筛查的频率。女性认为宫颈癌筛查是一种癌症检测方法，HPV 疫苗接种并不能提供针对宫颈癌的可靠保护。这些信念表明，女性认为她们需要更多有关减少筛查频率的基础信息，这是正确的。
任何改变宫颈癌筛查频率的做法都需要通过一项明确确定任何变化基本原理的强有力的公共卫生倡议来确保公众的支持和信任。
