The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65910

Ellen M. Daley, PhD, MPH¹, Sandra F. Naoom, MSPH(C)¹, Holly Rayko, MA², Jennifer Lee Packing-Ebuen, MA³, Mary McFarlane, PhD⁴, Karen M. Perrin, PhD, MPH, RN⁵, and Robert J McDermott, PhD, FAAHB⁶. (1) College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-974-8518, edaley@hsc.usf.edu, (2) USF Student Health Services, 4202 East Fowler Ave., SHS 100, Tampa, FL 33620, (3) Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, 8068 N. 56th St., Tampa, FL 33617, (4) Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-44, Atlanta, GA 30333, (5) Dept of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC-56, Tampa, FL 33612, (6) Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612

Background: An abnormal screening test result for cervical cancer (conventional Pap test or a fluid-based test such as ThinPrep) can be a troubling and emotional situation for women. Precancerous and cancerous cervical changes are primarily associated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmissible disease (STD). HPV presents women with three concurrent negative circumstances that inspire fear and other emotions: (1) They have an STD; (2) HPV presently has no cure; and (3) HPV is linked to cervical cancer. Purpose: To assess the impact of an HPV-related diagnosis, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 women recently diagnosed with HPV. Investigators were interested in whether recently diagnosed women focused on the STD nature of the diagnosis, or the potential development of cervical cancer. Methods: Interviews were conducted at three ethnically diverse clinics in west central Florida. Interviews were tape-recorded and results were transcribed and analyzed with the assistance of Ethnograph. Recurring content themes were extracted. Results: In Phase I analysis, the term "sexually transmitted disease" was virtually universal in its occurrence whereas the term "cancer" occurred with far less regularity. Most women reported their partners to be supportive. Phase II analysis will extract specific contextual differences pertinent to these health and social issues. Conclusions: An HPV diagnosis provokes social and emotional responses emanating from its STD status. Long-term and potentially life-threatening concerns due to cervical cancer may be less readily assimilated among recently diagnosed women, thus presenting opportunity to improve and clarify messages women receive as a result of screening.

Learning Objectives:

• At the completion of this session, participants will be able to:
• 1. Identify the role of HPV as a causal factor for cervical cancer.
• 2. Describe the three aspects of HPV that make it emotionally stressful for women.
• 3. Understand how receiving a diagnosis that contains both the term STD and the term cancer would be a cause for concern in women.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, STD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.