Effects of cervical cancer prevention education in middle-school girls in Korea: A mixed-method study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cervical cancer prevention education (CCPE) among Korean middle-school girls in terms of whether it provided them with a positive perception of the Papanicolaou test (Pap test) and encouraged them to undergo Pap testing in adulthood. METHODS: A mixed-method design was used to only one group of 15 people, which combined a one-group pretest-posttest design with a qualitative study and a focus group interview (FGI). The CCPE was provided to 15 girls, after which they participated in the FGI. The changes between pretest and posttest were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The findings of the FGI were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: After being provided CCPE, the girls showed a significant increase in their awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention (Z = -3.10, p = 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the perceived importance of their body, their emotional response to the Pap test, their confidence in cervical cancer prevention, or their intention to undergo Pap testing. In the FGI, the girls expressed negative emotions about the Pap test and were aware of the necessity of CCPE. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to develop CCPE focused on the Pap test targeting Korean middle-school girls. We found that the CCPE was partially effective, in terms of increasing their awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention.

Clinical nurses' awareness and caring experiences for patients with cervical cancer: A qualitative study.

To determine the degree to which nurses are aware of cervical cancer and to describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with cervical cancer. To promote quality of nursing care of cervical cancer, we need to explore their perceptions and nursing experience in doing cervical-cancer care. This study was a qualitative descriptive design. Interviews were conducted with 14 registered nurses. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed. Content analysis was performed. Fourteen nurses who had been working at wards and cancer education centers were recruited in this study. Nine key themes emerged from three categories such as nurses' awareness of cervical cancer, awareness of cervical cancer patient and caring experience. Nurses expressed fear of cervical cancer and helplessness in the face of a life-threatening prognosis. Nurses stated that they might have prejudice about cervical cancer, since it is caused by a sexually transmitted disease. They also recalled that patients with cervical cancer were more sensitive and demanding. Our findings provide a comprehensive and in-depth perspective in understanding the experience of caring for cervical cancer patients. Clinical nurses showed complex emotional reactions to cervical cancer, and expressed prejudice against the sex life of cervical-cancer patients. More education is required to ensure that clinical nurses can provide a nurse-led intervention with patients by managing nurses' fear, prejudice, and the care burden.

Relationship between Mothers' Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes toward Preventing Cervical Cancer in Their Pubertal Daughters.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between a mother's diagnosis of cervical cancer and attitudes toward cervical cancer prevention in their daughters. Their intention to recommend human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for their daughters, their confidence in 8 methods for cervical cancer prevention with their daughters, and their negative emotions about the assumption of their daughter's HPV infection. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of data from the study of maternal health beliefs about preventing cervical cancer. The study sample were women who reported whether ever diagnosed with cervical cancer, who had pubertal daughters (n=1,578). Data were analyzed by cross-tabulation analysis, Spearman's rank correlation analysis, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Mothers diagnosed with cervical cancer were more confident in using methods to prevent cervical cancer in their daughters (Z=-4.42, p<.001) and were more likely to feel negative emotions about the assumption of their daughters' HPV infection (Z=-2.44, p=.015) than mothers who were not diagnosed. Significant factors influencing their intention to recommend the HPV vaccination to their daughters were the mother's confidence in preventing cervical cancer in their daughters (odds ratio [OR], 1.003; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002-1.004) and their negative emotions about the assumption of their daughters' HPV infection (OR,1.016; 95% CI, 1.004-1.028). CONCLUSION: For the early prevention of cervical cancer in pubertal daughters, the education of their mothers should include interventions to increase confidence in preventing cervical cancer in their daughters and sensitivity of HPV infection toward daughters.