Women's Understanding of the Term “Pap Smear”

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of cervical cancer among Hispanics is approximately 60% higher than among non-Hispanic whites. The objective of this study was to compare understanding of the term “Pap smear” among Spanish-speaking women with understanding among English-speaking women. METHODS: Surveys were distributed to English- and Spanish-speaking adult women in an urban gynecology clinic where almost all patients are either publicly insured or uninsured. Respondents were asked to select correct descriptors for the term Pap smear. RESULTS: For both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women, a majority (74% and 70%, respectively) was able to identify at least one correct descriptor for the term Pap smear. For both English- and Spanish-speaking women, those who could identify at least one correct descriptor for the term Pap smear were significantly older than those who could not (36.9 compared with 28.7 years; P=.012 [English-speaking]; 35.7 compared with 29.5 years; P=.011 [Spanish-speaking]). Spanish-speaking women were significantly less likely to choose incorrect descriptors for the term Pap smear. Spanish-speaking women were much less likely to say that a Pap smear was the same as a pelvic examination (43% compared with 74%; P=.001), a test for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) (24% compared with 56%; P=.001), a pregnancy test (17% compared with 36%; P=.003), or a “checkup” (20% compared with 53%; P=.001). CONCLUSION: Among English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women, older women have a greater understanding of the term Pap smear than younger women. Spanish-speaking women are much less likely to confuse Pap smear screening with a pelvic examination or general STD screening.