Papanicolaou Smear Test Research Articles

Pap Smears Cytology of Cervical Abnormalities in Derna, Libya

The study aimed to provide information about the prevalence of various cervical lesions diagnosed by Papanicolaou smear tests among women in the city of Derna, in eastern Libya. The reporting of the Pap smears is based on the 2014 Bethesda system. The study included seventy-two cervical Pap smears cytology received at the Noor-AL-Huda Medical Center Pathology Laboratory in Derna City, east of Libya, and processed using conventional smear techniques. The data was gathered retrospectively from March 2022 to August 2023. A total of 72 cervical Pap smears were included in the study. The majority of the cases reported were Negative for Intraepithelial Lesions or Malignancy (NILM) 54 (75%). Out of the 72 reports, 2 (2.7%) were unsatisfactory. Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL) were found in 8 cases (11.11%), and 4 (5.5%) were High-grade Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL). Atypical Squamous Cells cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) were found in 4 cases (5.5%). LSIL and HSIL were more common among women aged 30-40 years. The age of the patients included in this study ranged from 30 to 56, with a mean age of 40 years. These findings emphasize the importance of a well-organized cervical screening program. In particular, women over 30 years should be educated about the importance of Pap smears and encouraged to undergo regular screening.

Integration between the Papanicolaou smear test and detection of human papillomavirus DNA suggests the need to update the screening strategy for the prevention of cervical uterine cancer

Integration between the Papanicolaou smear test and detection of human papillomavirus DNA suggests the need to update the screening strategy for the prevention of cervical uterine cancer

Human Papillomavirus among Women Undergoing Papanicolaou Smear Test in the Department of Gynaecologic Oncology of a Tertiary Care Centre.

In invasive cervical specimens or precursors, high-risk human papillomavirus Deoxyribonucleic acid may be detected to identify females at risk of developing cervical cancer. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of human papillomavirus among women undergoing Papanicolaou smear tests in a tertiary care centre. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women undergoing the Papanicolaou smear test in the Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, between 1 June 2022 and 15 November 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Board. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Among the 199 women, 6 (3.02%) (0.64-5.40, 95% Confidence Interval) had human papillomavirus infection. The mean age of the infected females was 31.17±5.57 years. Human papillomavirus DNA for 16 and 18 were detected in 4 (66.67%) and 2 (33.33%) females, respectively. The prevalence of human papillomavirus in females was found to be lower than other studies done in similar settings. cytology; histology; human papillomavirus; Nepal; prevalence.

Beyond the Microscope: A Technological Overture for Cervical Cancer Detection.

Cervical cancer is a common and preventable disease that poses a significant threat to women's health and well-being. It is the fourth most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, with approximately 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer are crucial for reducing mortality and morbidity rates. The Papanicolaou smear test is a widely used screening method that involves the examination of cervical cells under a microscope to identify any abnormalities. However, this method is time-consuming, labor-intensive, subjective, and prone to human errors. Artificial intelligence techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Papanicolaou smear diagnosis. Artificial intelligence techniques can automatically analyze Papanicolaou smear images and classify them into normal or abnormal categories, as well as detect the severity and type of lesions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in artificial intelligence diagnostics of the Papanicolaou smear, focusing on the methods, datasets, performance metrics, and challenges. The paper also discusses the potential applications and future directions of artificial intelligence diagnostics of the Papanicolaou smear.

Cervical Papanicolaou Smear Test Screening among Patients Visiting the Outpatient Department of Gynaecology of a Tertiary Care Centre.

Carcinoma cervix is the second most common cause of death in women worldwide and the most common cause in developing countries. Cervical cancer is considered a preventable gynaecological problem as it has a long premalignant stage which can be detected by exfoliative cytology like papanicolaou smear test. The papanicolaou smear test is a simple, safe, non-invasive, and low-cost effective method for screening cervical cancer in developing countries like Nepal. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of cervical papanicolaou smear test screening among patients visiting the Outpatient Department of Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting the Department of Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Data from 14 April 2021 to 22 October 2022 were collected between 11 May 2023 to 26 May 2023 from the hospital records. Papanicolaou smear tests among the age group of 21 years up to 70 years were included in the study. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Among 11,173 patients, papanicolaou smear test was done in 572 (5.12%) (4.71-5.53, 95% Confidence Interval). Negative for intraepithelial lesion was the most common cytological pattern seen in 518 (90.55%) patients. The low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was the most common among abnormal epithelial cells seen in 29 (5.07%). The prevalence of cervical papanicolaou smear test among patients visiting the Outpatient Department of Gynaecology was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings. cervical cancer; cytology; papanicolaou smear.

Cervical Cancer Awareness and Attitude Towards Cervical Cancer Screening and Human Papillomavirus Vaccines Among Urban Women of Karachi, Pakistan.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women under 50 years of age in Pakistan. The current study was designed to assess the level of awareness through educational outreach presentations about cervical cancer, Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Karachi, Pakistan. Women from different urban hospitals were enrolled. Participants participated in a 45-minute presentation on cervical cancer awareness led by student pharmacists from Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi. A pre-and post-test was administered to assess the impact of the intervention. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, and a t-test was used for matched comparison, and a p-value <0.05 for statistical significance. A total of 150 women participated in the study. The study found that Pakistani women living in urban settings were less knowledgeable about the causes of cervical cancer and prevention. After the presentation, we observed a 45% increase in knowledge, and 31% of participants said they would obtain a Pap smear test in the next six months. Supervised pharmacy student-led presentations on cervical cancer educational awareness that significantly impacted women participants. Pharmacists can play a key role in reducing cervical cancer deaths through increased awareness, education, prevention, and immunization.

Determination of the Relationship Between Gynecological Cancer Awareness and Fear of Cancer in Women Using Social Media and the Affecting Factors.

Understanding the relationship between fear of gynecological cancer and awareness of cancer in women may help oncology nurses increase women's participation in gynecological cancer screening. To examine the relationship between women's gynecological cancer awareness and cancer fear using social media and the affecting factors. In a descriptive and cross-sectional study design, online data were collected from 1231 women aged 20 to 69 years through social media using the Descriptive Information Form, the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale (GCAS), and the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS). Analytic tests included paired t tests, analysis of variance, and post hoc correlations and structural equation modeling. The women's total mean GCAS score was above moderate (152 ± 17), and their mean CWS score was high (19 ± 5). There was no relationship between the GCAS and CWS mean scores. Characteristics of participants with high awareness of gynecological cancer were being young, having a high educational level, having children, living in a province, having a history of cancer or family history of cancer, and having regular gynecological examinations, Papanicolaou smear tests, breast self-examination, and vulva examinations ( P < .05). The fear of cancer was higher in women with children, a family history of cancer, and regular gynecological examination behaviors ( P < .05). Awareness of gynecological cancer was not significantly statistically associated with fear of cancer. Certain sociodemographic and gynecological characteristics are associated with awareness of gynecological cancer and/or fear of cancer. Oncology nurses may plan individualized or large-scale educational events that may make use of social media to enhance accurate awareness of gynecological cancer and related examinations in women.

Applicability of On-Site Evaluation of Cervical Cytology Smears Stained with Toluidine Blue to Reduce Unsatisfactory Results

Introduction: Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a major health problem faced by Indian women. Screening techniques like visual inspection with acetic acid, Lugol’s iodine, Papanicolaou smear, and human papillomavirus DNA testing have been suggested. Pap smear is a simple, safe, cost-effective, and reliable technique used for screening cervical lesions. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) using the 1% aq. toluidine blue staining method has been less studied in cervical cytology. Materials and Methods: Our study was a prospective study done over a period of 2 years. All the cervical cytology smears were reported as per the Bethesda system 2014. Rapid stain using aqueous toluidine blue (1%) and conventional Pap stain was done on the smears received. Results: We evaluated a total of 1,300 cases, with 97.6% satisfactory samples. The spectrum of cases included 96.3% of negative for malignancy cases (including bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, candida, and atrophic smears), atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance and atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 0.5% cases, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and high-grade intraepithelial lesion in 0.3% cases, squamous cell carcinoma in 0.3% cases, and atypical glandular cells/adenocarcinoma in 0.2% cases. Turnaround time was within 48 h in 77% cases. With rapid stain, our unsatisfactory rate was reduced from 12% to approx. 2.4%. Conclusion: ROSE has been attempted on routine FNA cytology samples with success. However, the use of ROSE in cervical cytology has not been attempted to date. Lower unsatisfactory rate is an important indicator for the successful implementation of cervical cancer screening technique.

Reassessment of intensive surveillance practices adopted for endometrial cancer survivors

BackgroundIn Japan, 17,000 women are newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2018. The healthcare insurance policy in Japan provides more intensive patient surveillance compared with the United States and European countries. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze data, including surveillance methods, recurrence sites, salvage therapy, and survival period after recurrence, to consider the benefits of surveillance for patients with endometrial cancer.MethodsBetween January 2009 and December 2015, the medical records of patients who were initially diagnosed with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I–IV endometrial cancer and treated were enrolled in this retrospective study. Only patients with stage IV cancer with peritoneal dissemination were included. Within the first 2 years, the included patients underwent tumor marker tests, Papanicolaou smear test every 1–3-months, and imaging analysis at 6–12- month intervals. Until 4 years, the patients underwent regular surveys every 4 months and imaging analysis annually. Subsequently, the patients received regular surveys every 6 -to 12-months. Results.Among 847 patients, 88 experienced recurrence, and their clinicopathological data were statistically analyzed. The recurrence site was not associated with the initial treatment method or histology. Among the patients with recurrence, 75% were asymptomatic. Univariate analysis demonstrated that time to recurrence and local recurrence were significant factors for survival outcomes, whereas multivariate analysis indicated that only local recurrence was a significant factor. In patients with distant metastasis, neither symptomatic nor asymptomatic recurrence showed a significant difference in survival.ConclusionsIn this retrospective study, an intensive surveillance protocol did not benefit patients with endometrial cancer. Thus, we hypothesize that the characterization of tumors by emerging technologies that can precisely predict the nature of the tumor will help tailor individualized and efficient surveillance programs. In addition, the ideal salvage therapy needs to be developed to benefit patients after recurrence.

Awareness and Screening for Cervical Cancer using Papanicolaou Smear Test Among Women in A Rural Area

ackground: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women Worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women in India. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of cancer cervix and the practice of Pap smear test among women in a rural area. Methods: The awareness and screening for cancer cervix using Papanicolaou smear test among women were studied in 526 women at 9 different health centers in a rural area near Rajahmundry from March 5th, 2021 to March 10th, 2021 with a questionnaire survey of history, assessment of knowledge about cancer cervix, attitude and practice of Pap smear testing &amp; HPV vaccination followed by clinical examination and screening using pap smear test. Results: During the study period, a total of 526 women were surveyed, out of which screening was done in only 394 women. Most of the women belong to 30-39 years (37.2%). Distribution of the women based on socio-economic class, occupation, parity, symptoms, clinical examination, knowledge about cervical cancer, and the results of pap smear tests were also studied out of which vaginal discharge seems to be the most common symptom (15.2%), the cervical examination was normal in 91.6%, 77.3% had awareness about cancer cervix and 41.4% of participants had adequate knowledge about Pap smear test. Conclusion: Awareness about cancer cervix was adequate but the awareness &amp; the rates of pap smear testing and HPV vaccination in this area are far lower than in urban areas due to less exposure to health care information.

Cervical Cancer-related Knowledge and Practice among Omani Women Attending a Family Medicine and Public Health Clinic.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices related to cervical cancer and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing among Omani women who were visitors to a family medicine and public health (FMPH) clinic. A secondary aim was to correlate the above with the subjects’ sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2020 to April 2021 at the FMPH Clinic of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat. A self-administered questionnaire assessed the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, cervical cancer-related risk factors, and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and Pap smear testing.ResultsThe participants were 285 Omani women. The vast majority (256/285; 89.8%) had heard about cervical cancer and 208/285 (73.0%) about Pap smear testing. Only 32/285 (11.2%) and 179/285 (62.8%) demonstrated high levels of knowledge in the respective topics. Cervical cancer knowledge scores were associated with education level (p =0.039), whether the qualification was related to healthcare (p < 0.001), and the nature of employment (p =0.033). Pap smear knowledge scores were also associated with age (p =0.001), education level (p < 0.001), whether the qualification was related to healthcare (p < 0.001), the nature of employment (p =0.001), and number of children (p =0.001). Most women were aware of the availability of Pap smear testing in Oman (206/285; 72.3%) and 114/285 (40.0%) had previously undergone this test. Among those who had never undertaken Pap smear testing (171/285; 60.0%), many were willing to do so in the future (103/171; 60.2%).ConclusionsOur results provide an increased understanding of Omani women’s level of perceptions, attitudes, and screening practices related to cervical cancer. These findings will help develop strategies to improve Omani women’s knowledge of cervical cancer symptoms and screening facilities and promote optimum utilization of the available screening services.KeywordsCervical Cancer; Papanicolaou Test; Cancer Screening; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Human Papilloma Virus; Oman.

Screening technologies for cervical cancer: Overview.

Ever since the introduction of the Papanicolaou (PAP) smear test was published in 1941 in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PAP test linked with definitive treatment has prevented millions of women from cervical cancer in the developed countries. Due to limited availability of resources, a lack of infrastructure and difficulty in getting highly trained professionals, widespread implementation of PAP test dependent cervical cancer screening program has not been established in low and middle income countries such as India. Therefore, after availability of non-cytological tests such as visual inspection on acetic acid (VIA) and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test, there is a paradigm shift in cervical cancer screening methods. In past two decades, various research work has convincingly established the utility of VIA and HPV test in developing countries. The evidences were evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and recommendations have been recently published for comprehensive cervical cancer control strategies for the low and middle income countries. For any successful screening program, achieving high coverage (>70%) of the target population rather than frequent screening is the most important determinant. It is also equally important to ensure appropriate investigations of the screen positive women to establish the disease and treatment of the screen detected cases of cervical intra epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer. HPV testing is the WHO recommended test for cervical cancer screening especially in view of widespread HPV vaccination in young population leading to lower prevalence of CIN and other HPV related diseases.

Uptake of Papanicolaou Smear Test and Human Papiloma Virus Vaccines among Clients in Family Planning Clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Uptake of Papanicolaou Smear Test and Human Papiloma Virus Vaccines among Clients in Family Planning Clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Meta Analysis: Application of Health Belief Model Theory on Pap Smear Screening Uptake in Women of Reproductive Age

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth cancer in the world that attacks women and causes death. Until now, cervical cancer causes high morbidity and mortality. Regular cervical cancer screening with the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test remains an effective public health intervention in the prevention and subsequent reduction of the incidence, morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer. Health Belief Model (HBM) is a model developed to help understand human behavior in seeking health services and explain why people do not engage in behavior for disease prevention or early detection. Subjects and Method: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data collection was obtained from 3 databases, namely: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. Analysis of this research using software RevMan 5.3. The inclusion criteria used were full English paper with cross sectional design in 2012-2022. The keywords used were “Pap Smear” OR “Cervical Cancer Screen­ing” AND “Health Belief Model” OR “Health Belief” AND “Cervical Cancer”. Results: A total of 15 cross-sectional study articles from Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Nepal, Lebanon, South Korea, Iran, South Africa, Ethiopia, the United States, and Italy were reviewed in the meta-analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the perception of high susceptibility had an effect on the possibility of using Pap smear services 1.13 times compared to the perception of low susceptibility (aOR= 1.13; 95% CI= 1.03 to 1.07; p &lt; 0.001), and the results were statistically significant. The perception of low barriers affects the possibility of using Pap smear services 0.91 times compared to perceptions of high barriers (aOR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.86 to 0.97; p &lt;0.001), and the results are statistically significant. Conclusion: Perceptions of high susceptibility and perceptions of low barriers affect the possibility of using pap smear services. Keywords: health belief model, cervical cancer, pap smear. Correspondence: Syndia Puspitasari. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jalan Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia. Email: syndiapuss96@gmail.com. Mobile: +628 2234398706. Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior (2022), 07(04): 322-335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/thejhpb.2022.07.04.05

Clinical correlation of CC screening using Pap smear test

Cervical cancer (CC) has a long preinvasive stage, which allows for preventive detection and possible cure. In this study, this stage was a target stage to investigate women with precancerous lesions by applying the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test and comduct performing a correlation study.s. A 2-year cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 200 married women (21-60 years old) participated in the investigation, which included women with Pap test abnormal results (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs)). These results were used to perform a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) of (6 and 11), a low-risk type, and (16 and 18), a high-risk type with colposcopy examination and colposcopy-guided biopsy, if needed for women with abnormal colposcopy outcomes. The treatment, per severity and disease stage, was applied. The clinical presentation and Pap smear results of women enrolled in the study were as follows: 82.5% women were asymptomatic, postcoital bleeding (PCB) was seen in 17.0%, and intermenstrual bleeding was seen in a single case (0.5%). The history of sexually transmitted diseases was seen in 2.5% of the subjects. Pap smear results were as follows: no remarkable pathology was seen in 36.0%, inflammatory evidence was seen in 32.0%, ASCUS was seen in 19.0%, LSIL was seen in 7.5%, and HSIL was seen in 5.5% of the subjects. Regarding the HPV, the infection was negative in 95.0%, low-risk virus strains were seen in 1.5%, and high-risk viruses were seen in 3.5%. Low-risk HPV included 6, 11, and 42, whereas the high-risk group included five cases of HPV16 and two cases of HPV 18. The present work presents the Pap smear test as a highly useful, easy, technically safe, and cost-effective tool for detecting cervical epithelial precancerous lesions, which can be used as a routine screening technique for better treatment outcomes and reducing mortality rates. The power of detection of these lesions can be potentiated when using the Pap test and HPV-PCR test together.

Prevalence of Pap Smear among Female Health Personnel in Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban, Malaysia

Background: Cervical cancer is the third common cancer among women in Malaysia. Human papillomavirus is most prevalent among young women with early sexual activity, multiple partners, smoking, and immunosuppression. Screening for detection and early treatment is more effective for managing cervical cancer. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is used for the early detection of cervical cancer. The National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2019 showed only 36.6% of women in Malaysia have undertaken the test. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from August 2019 to October 2019 in the hospital Tuanku Ja’afar (HTJ) a tertiary government hospital in Malaysia. The target population was female healthcare personnel, the self-administered questionnaire had been used for data collection. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science It was including socio-demographic background, lifestyle, and knowledge towards Pap smear. Our objective is to determine the incidence of Pap smears between female health personnel in the hospital. Results: The prevalence of having Pap smear done once in their life was 55.7%, only 33.5% of them had it done within the past 3 years according to the guideline. Prevalence was significantly lower in the singles, younger age, doctors, higher educational level, and higher monthly income. The main factors for poor response were a busy schedule, having no unusual symptoms, personal shyness, and fear of pain.Conclusion: The prevalence of Pap smear among female health personnel in HTJ is not consistent with their knowledge of pap smear. Hence, reinforcement of pap smear screening is important to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer by addressing obstacles and constraints for a good response among female healthcare personnel. Moreover, awareness of screening guidelines through media, health campaigns, and health talks will help to assure practice more effectively.

Mutational analysis of p53 gene in cervical cancer and useful polymorphic variants in exons 3 and 4

BackgroundFactors contributing to the pathogenesis and progression of cervical cancer include poor attitude to screening and health intervention, late presentation, among others. Mutations in p53 gene have been attributed to several cancer cases. The present study was designed to find relationships between the mutation patterns in p53 gene and cervical carcinoma staging. Such knowledge could contribute to early diagnosis of cervical cancer.ResultsFrom the sequence analysis of p53 gene fragment isolated by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), nineteen (19) polymorphic variants were identified. Missense mutations occurred in 47% of the samples, 32% were silent mutations, 16% were frameshift mutations and 5% nonsense mutations. Socio-biological characteristics of the study participants revealed that 60% have husbands with multiple sexual partners and that only 23.3% of the participants have ever had the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test prior to diagnosis, whilst 20% were unaware of the screening test.ConclusionsIncreased severity of cervical carcinoma staging as revealed from the histopathological analysis was found to be associated with accumulation of higher levels of mutations in the p53 gene. Molecular analysis of p53 gene mutations may prove useful as a screening biomarker for cervical cancer.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening among Omani Women Attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Oman: A Cross-Sectional.

Background:This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing among Omani women attending primary healthcare centers in Oman, and to establish a correlation with various sociodemographic characteristics. Methods:A multi-center cross-sectional survey was carried out from August 2019 to January 2020 and included 805 women attending 18 primary healthcare centers. A pre-tested questionnaire was utilized to assess the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, cervical cancer risk factors, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and Pap smear testing. Results:All 805 women participated in the study (response rate: 100%). Overall, 67.5% and 50.9% had heard of cervical cancer and Pap smear testing, respectively; however, only 13.4% and 10.9% demonstrated high levels of knowledge concerning these topics. Knowledge was significantly associated with educational level, type of educational qualification (i.e. if their degree was related to healthcare), monthly income, and employment status (p ≤ 0.05 each). Only 15.7% of the participants had previously undergone Pap smear testing, although 42.7% were willing to undertake such screening in future. No associations were noted between Pap smear practice or willingness and sociodemographic characteristics, family history of cervical cancer or personal history of cervical cancer or related risk factors. Conclusions:Knowledge regarding cervical cancer and Pap smear testing was suboptimal among a cohort of Omani women attending primary healthcare centers in Oman. This may be a factor behind the increased number of cervical cancer cases in Oman; as such, a well-structured awareness and educational program is needed to address this issue.

Effect of planned teaching program on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) in relation to selected aspects of cervical cancer and screening for secondary prevention among women in rural district of Raigad, Maharashtra

Introduction: Worldwide and in developing countries cervical cancer remains an important health problem. The burden of cancer is still increasing worldwide despite advances for diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiological studies have shown that many cancers may be avoidable. It is widely held that 80–90% of human cancers may be attributable to environmental and lifestyle factors such as tobacco, alcohol, lack of immunization and dietary habits. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitudes and common practices pertaining to cervical cancer and its secondary prevention and the importance of Pap (Papanicolaou) smear test for screening among the women and also to determine the association between knowledge and attitudes scores of women in relation to cervical cancer with the selected demographic variables. Material and Methods: This interventional study imparting planned teaching program to women participants encouraging undergoing Pap smear screening was conducted in Raigad District. General Systems Model was the guiding framework for the study. Proportionate sampling was used to recruit women from villages selected for the study. Results: The number of participants was 950. This study revealed the limited knowledge of Indian women about the susceptibility of cervical cancer, and the necessity of cervical cancer screening among the women. Among the study population, 98.5% had poor knowledge regarding cervical cancer screening. There were significant differences among the women knowledge scores, a change in their attitudes and a change in the practices scores also, which shows that the structured teaching program has been highly effective.

Effect of planned teaching program on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) in relation to selected aspects of cervical cancer and screening for secondary prevention among women in rural district of Raigad, Maharashtra

Introduction: Worldwide and in developing countries cervical cancer remains an important health problem. The burden of cancer is still increasing worldwide despite advances for diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiological studies have shown that many cancers may be avoidable. It is widely held that 80–90% of human cancers may be attributable to environmental and lifestyle factors such as tobacco, alcohol, lack of immunization and dietary habits. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitudes and common practices pertaining to cervical cancer and its secondary prevention and the importance of Pap (Papanicolaou) smear test for screening among the women and also to determine the association between knowledge and attitudes scores of women in relation to cervical cancer with the selected demographic variables. Material and Methods: This interventional study imparting planned teaching program to women participants encouraging undergoing Pap smear screening was conducted in Raigad District. General Systems Model was the guiding framework for the study. Proportionate sampling was used to recruit women from villages selected for the study. Results: The number of participants was 950. This study revealed the limited knowledge of Indian women about the susceptibility of cervical cancer, and the necessity of cervical cancer screening among the women. Among the study population, 98.5% had poor knowledge regarding cervical cancer screening. There were significant differences among the women knowledge scores, a change in their attitudes and a change in the practices scores also, which shows that the structured teaching program has been highly effective.