Predictors of Iranian women’s intention to first papanicolaou test practice: An application of protection motivation theory.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Given the importance of papanicolaou (Pap) test in the early detection and timely treatment of cervical cancer, present study was designed to determine predictors of a sample of Iranian women’s intention to first Pap test practice based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, a total of 240 women referral to the 30 primary health care clinics were selected. They completed a developed scale based on PMT variables including intention, perceived vulnerability and severity, fear, response costs, response efficacy and self‑efficacy. Path analysis was used to determine the association between predictive factors and intention. RESULTS: The results showed that PMT had goodness of fit with a χ2/df = 2.37, df = 28, P = 0.001 and RMSEA = 0.076. PMT explained 42% of the variance in women’s intention to get first Pap smear test. Self‑efficacy (b = 0.55, P < 0.001) and response efficacy (b = 0.19, P < 0.001) were found to be the predictors of intention. CONCLUSION: These findings may be used to develop tailored, theory‑based educational interventions associated with Pap testing among women.