Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the baseline information about the knowledge of cervical cancer and explore attitude and practice of Pap smear screening among staff nurses.
METHODS
A pretested structured self administered questionnaire based survey was done on 205 staff nurses working in Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Saifai, Etawah, containing mostly recognition and some recall type questions about demographics, knowledge about cervical cancer, its risk factors, screening techniques, attitudes towards cervical cancer screening and its practices.
RESULTS
In this study, 74% knew that Pap smear is used for detection of cervical cancer, but only 59% knew that it can detect both cancerous as well as precancerous lesions of the cervix. Only 18% of the respondents knew about human papillomavirus vaccine. A 47% of respondents had never taken a Pap smear; 63% never referred patients for the screening. Most nurses (79%) thought that a speculum examination and Pap smear are procedures to be performed by the doctors. Among all the respondents, only 11% had ever undergone a Pap smear on themselves.
CONCLUSION
Despite knowledge of the gravity of cervical cancer and prevention by screening, attitudes and practices towards screening were negative.

Links

PMC Free PDF

PMC Free Full Text

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Singh E, Seth S, Rani V, Srivastava DK

Institution

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uttar Pradesh Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Etawah, India.

Source

Journal of gynecologic oncology 23:3 2012 Jul pg 141-6

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22808355