CERVICAL CANCER AND PAP SMEAR AWARENESS AMONG PARAMEDICAL STAFF
Main Article Content
Keywords
Cervical cancer, human papilloma virus (HPV), HPV vaccine, Pap smear, paramedical staff
Abstract
Introduction: Cervical cancer is preventable, particularly in developed nations due to effective screening programs like Pap smears and human papillomavirus [HPV] testing and the critical role of the HPV vaccine. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of paramedical staff regarding cervical cancer, pap smear, HPV infection and the importance of regular screening. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaire-based survey among 90 nurses from various countries [India, Philippines, Nigeria and Pakistan] working in private tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia in January 2021. The ERB letter was taken and statistical analysis was done. Results: The awareness among the participant was high with 88% known about cervical cancer and 100% having heard of Pap smears. Despite this high level of awareness, the understanding of cervical cancer risk factors was notably poor. Only 34.2% of married participants had undergone Pap smear testing. Various barriers to undergoing Pap smears were identified. 28% of participant felt embarrassed about the pelvic examination, 16% feared a grave diagnosis, 24% perceived the test as not important and 12% were afraid of the pain associated with the testing. Conclusion: There is a need for increased education and awareness among pharmaceutical staff to improve their knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and the importance of regular screening. Sustained screening approached and the appropriate use of the HPV vaccine are recommended to address constrains in low resources settings.
References
2. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin DM, Forman D, Bray F. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. International journal of cancer. 2015 Mar 1;136(5):E359-86. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29210. Epub 2014 Oct 9.
3. Kojalo U, Tisler A, Parna K, Kivite-Urtane A, Zodzika J, Stankunas M, Baltzer N, Nygard M, Uuskula A. An overview of cervical cancer epidemiology and prevention in the Baltic States. BMC Public Health. 2023 Apr 7;23(1):660. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15524-y.
4. Zhang S, Xu H, Zhang L, Qiao Y. Cervical cancer: Epidemiology, risk factors and screening. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research. 2020 Dec 12;32(6):720. doi: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2020.06.05.
5. Pimple SA, Mishra GA. Global strategies for cervical cancer prevention and screening. Minerva ginecologica. 2019 Feb 22;71(4):313-20. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4784.19.04397-1. Epub 2019 Feb 22.
6. Jones SE. Papillomaviruses in equids: A decade of discovery and more to come?. Equine Veterinary Education. 2022;34(5):236-40.
7. Bao HL, Jin C, Wang S, Song Y, Xu ZY, Yan XJ, Li LM, Ning Y, Wang HJ. Prevalence of cervicovaginal human papillomavirus infection and genotypes in the pre-vaccine era in China: a nationwide population-based study. Journal of Infection. 2021 Apr 1;82(4):75-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.02.017. Epub 2021 Feb 18.
8. Jensen JE, Becker GL, Jackson JB, Rysavy MB. Human Papillomavirus and Associated Cancers: A Review. Viruses. 2024 Apr 26;16(5):680. doi: 10.3390/v16050680.
9. Stanley M. Host defence and persistent human papillomavirus infection. Current Opinion in Virology. 2021 Dec 1;51:106-10. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.09.010. Epub 2021 Oct 8.
10. Zhao X, Zhao S, Hu S, Zhao K, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Pan Q, Zhao F. Role of human papillomavirus DNA load in predicting the long-term risk of cervical cancer: a 15-year prospective cohort study in China. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2019 Jan 7;219(2):215-22. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy507.
11. Nagelhout G, Ebisch RM, Van Der Hel O, Meerkerk GJ, Magnée T, De Bruijn T, Van Straaten B. Is smoking an independent risk factor for developing cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert review of anticancer therapy. 2021 Jul 3;21(7):781-94. doi: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1888719. Epub 2021 Mar 5.
12. Valasoulis G, Pouliakis A, Michail G, Daponte AI, Galazios G, Panayiotides IG, Daponte A. The influence of sexual behavior and demographic characteristics in the expression of HPV-related biomarkers in a colposcopy population of reproductive age Greek women. Biology. 2021 Jul 26;10(8):713. doi: 10.3390/biology10080713.
13. Ganju SA, Ganju NK. Preanalytical requirements: Focus on urine culture. BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences. 2019 Jul 1;4(2):55-9.
14. Rajaram S, Gupta B. Screening for cervical cancer: Choices & dilemmas. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2021 Aug 1;154(2):210-20.
15. Said SA, Fazari AB, Osman MA, Khan F, Yahiya K, Ahmed S, Abd Allah HA. Perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening using Pap Smear Test among women attending Saad Abu Al Ella Hospital in Khartoum State, 2022. Journal of Cancer Therapy. 2023 Feb 27;14(2):73-9.
16. Tong T, Su D, Yang Q, Yang K, Liu Y, Wang Q, Tian T. Multiple high-risk HPV infections probably associated with a higher risk of low-grade cytological abnormalities but not with high-grade intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2024 Mar 14;22(1):79.
17. Kang M, Ha SY, Cho HY, Chung DH, Kim NR, An J, Lee S, Seok JY, Jeong J. Comparison of papanicolaou smear and human papillomavirus (HPV) test as cervical screening tools: can we rely on HPV test alone as a screening method? An 11-year retrospective experience at a single institution. Journal of pathology and translational medicine. 2020 Jan;54(1):112.
18. Romli R, Saddki N, Mokhtar N. Effectiveness of a health education program to improve knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer and pap smear: a controlled community trial in Malaysia. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP. 2020 Mar;21(3):853.
19. Sumarmi S, Hsu YY, Cheng YM, Lee SH. Factors associated with the intention to undergo Pap smear testing in the rural areas of Indonesia: a health belief model. Reproductive Health. 2021 Jun 30;18(1):138.
20. Yin G, Zhang Y, Chen C, Ren H, Guo B, Zhang M. Have you ever heard of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine? The awareness of HPV vaccine for college students in China based on meta-analysis. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. 2021 Aug 3;17(8):2736-47.
21. Obol JH, Lin S, Obwolo MJ, Harrison R, Richmond R. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of cervical cancer prevention among health workers in rural health centres of Northern Uganda. BMC cancer. 2021 Dec;21:1-5.
22. Zheng F, Wang K. The impact of social media on guideline-concordant cervical cancer–screening: insights from a national survey. Public Health. 2023 Oct 1;223:50-6.
23. Eun TJ, Perkins RB. Screening for cervical cancer. Medical Clinics. 2020 Nov 1;104(6):1063-78.
24. Luigjes‐Huizer YL, Tauber NM, Humphris G, Kasparian NA, Lam WW, Lebel S, Simard S, Smith AB, Zachariae R, Afiyanti Y, Bell KJ. What is the prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors and patients? A systematic review and individual participant data meta‐analysis. Psycho‐Oncology. 2022 Jun;31(6):879-92.
25. Ahmed NU, Rojas P, Degarege A. Knowledge of cervical cancer and adherence to Pap smear screening test among female university students in a multiethnic institution, USA. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2020 Jun 1;112(3):300-7.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Zahida Kalsoom
Consultant, Gynecologist at Bhatti International Teaching Hospital Kasur, Pakistan
Aasma Hanif
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Pakistan
Maria Ashfaq
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Pakistan
Shazia Noor
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Pakistan
Sanum Asif
Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Pakistan
Muhammad Usama Maooz Awan
Nutrition Coordinator, Avicenna Medical & Dental College Hospital Lahore, Pakistan
Ayesha Noor
WMO, Rahbar Medical & Dental College Lahore, Punjab Rangers Teaching Hospital Lahore, Pakistan
Shahida Kalsoom
Govt. Apwa Graduate College for Women Lahore, Pakistan