Awareness of cervical cancer screening among nursing staff in a tertiary institution of rural India.
10.3802/jgo.2012.23.3.141
- Author:
Ekta SINGH
1
;
Shikha SETH
;
Vidya RANI
;
Dhiraj Kumar SRIVASTAVA
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uttar Pradesh Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Etawah, India. ektasinghlhmc@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cervical cancer;
Pap smear;
Screening attitude
- MeSH:
Cervix Uteri;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Demography;
Female;
Gravitation;
Humans;
India;
Mass Screening;
Nursing Staff;
Risk Factors;
Surgical Instruments;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
- From:Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
2012;23(3):141-146
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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.
