Patients’ Reactions to Further Evaluation of Abnormal Cytological Smear Tests

Kola, Susanna and Walsh, Jane C. (2008) Patients’ Reactions to Further Evaluation of Abnormal Cytological Smear Tests. In: 39th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, 20th – 23rd November 2008, Tullow, Co. Carlow. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Objective: With the anticipated rollout of the national cervical cancer-screening programme, the study aimed to describe psychological reactions to colposcopy, and assess patient perceptions of possible interventions.
Methods: A retrospective postal questionnaire was sent to 200 women (aged 20-60) registered with the Colposcopy Clinic, University Hospital Galway. Results: The response rate was 76%. Respondents reported high levels of anxiety and worry prior to colposcopy. Those that feared cancer had higher anxiety levels than those not fearing cancer, t = 6.81, df = 149, p < .001. Higher levels of pain were reported by anxious patients than by non-anxious patients, Chi2 (2) = 7.78, p =.020.
Conclusions: Women react adversely to colposcopy, and increased anxiety affect the experience of colposcopic examination, with higher levels of pain, discomfort, and embarrassment.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information:	Abstract published in The Irish Psychologist, 35 (4), 2008, p.99
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Schools:	School of Human and Health Sciences
Related URLs:	Organisation Conference
Depositing User:	Cherry Edmunds
Date Deposited:	08 Mar 2011 10:25
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2016 06:07
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/9757

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