Abstract
Cervical cancer is potentially the most preventable and treatable cancer. Despite the known efficacy of cervical screening, a significant number of women do not avail themselves of the procedure due to lack of awareness. This study was conducted to elicit information on the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding screening (Pap test) and vaccination for carcinoma cervix among female doctors and nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore and to assess barriers to acceptance of the Pap test. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire among female health professionals. The study subjects were interviewed for KAP regarding risk factors for cancer cervix, Pap test and HPV vaccination for protection against carcinoma cervix. Higher proportion of doctors 45 (78.9%) had very good knowledge as compared to only 13 (13.3%) of the nurses, about risk factors for cancer cervix and Pap test (p=0.001). As many as 138(89.6%) of the study subjects had favorable attitude towards Pap test and vaccination, but 114 (73.6%) of the study subjects never had a Pap test and the most common reason 35 (31%) for not practicing was absence of disease symptoms. In spite of good knowledge and attitudes towards cancer cervix and Pap test being good, practice remained low among the study subjects and most common reasons for not undergoing Pap test was absence of disease symptoms. The independent predictors of ever having a Pap test done was found to be the occupation and duration of married life above 9 yrs. Hence there is a strong need to improve uptake of Pap test by health professionals by demystifying the barriers.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is potentially the most preventable and treatable cancer but it is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women around the world, it is third most common cancer among women globally and ranking first in many developing countries (ACS 2011)
In spite of good knowledge and attitudes towards cancer cervix and Pap test being good, practice remained low among the study subjects and most common reasons for not undergoing Pap test was absence of disease symptoms
Study was conducted with an objective to find out practice of Pap test among the health care professionals themselves, a majority of participants knowledge about cervical cancer was good and they considered its prevention and control to be important
Summary
Cervical cancer is potentially the most preventable and treatable cancer but it is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women around the world, it is third most common cancer among women globally and ranking first in many developing countries (ACS 2011). Most women with cervical cancer in developing countries present in advanced stage of the disease, resulting in low cure rates (Park, 2013). Several factors contribute to high burden of disease and advanced stage at presentation including poor knowledge about the disease, in most of the developing countries the mass screening programe for early detection of cancer cervix is practically nonexistent. Objectives: This study was conducted to elicit information on the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding screening (Pap test) and vaccination for carcinoma cervix among female doctors and nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore and to assess barriers to acceptance of the Pap test. Conclusions: In spite of good knowledge and attitudes towards cancer cervix and Pap test being good, practice remained low among the study subjects and most common reasons for not undergoing Pap test was absence of disease symptoms. There is a strong need to improve uptake of Pap test by health professionals by demystifying the barriers
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