A prospective descriptive study of women attending a colposcopy clinic
Kate L Tribe
Managing Director, Tribe Research, Sydney NSW
Vickie Knight
Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sydney Sexual Health Centre, South Eastern and Illawarra Area Health Service, Sydney NSW
Cathy Pell
Medical Officer, Taylor Square Clinic, Darlinghurst NSW
PP: 80 - 85
Abstract
This paper reports the findings of a prospective convenience sample cohort study investigating self-reported purpose of pap smears and worry interference associated with having abnormal pap smear results in women attending a public colposcopy service between 05 April and 19 December 2003.
Intrusive thoughts about cancer have been postulated to be associated with dysfunction in women at increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
A study designed questionnaire and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control was completed by the women whilst waiting to have colposcopy. This study shows that Asian women need to have information about abnormal pap smear results explained well in order to avoid intrusive thoughts and anxiety. It also demonstrates that nurses provide a key role in providing information that leads to less concern and better understanding of the concepts.
Keywords
nursing, cervical cytology, colposcopy, intrusiveness of thought, cancer specific worries, anxiety
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