Adaptation of patients diagnosed with human papillomavirus: a grounded theory study

Current status and influencing factors of different dimensions of HPV knowledge among HPV-infected women

HR-HPV infection is a primary risk factor for the development of cervical cancer and its precursors. The perceived status of HPV among patients can trigger negative emotional responses, which subsequently impact their willingness to participate in disease screening and health promotion efforts. This study examined the current knowledge status and sources of information regarding various dimensions of HPV among women infected with HPV attending gynecology outpatient clinics in hospitals from September 2023 to June 2024. A total of 505 participants were included in the study, yielding an overall HPV-related knowledge score of 10 (range: 4-15) among infected women. Notably, 10.30% (52 participants) scored 0 for HPV knowledge. Additionally, those who acquired it through multiple channels had lower risks of low awareness regarding HPV risk factors, preventive measures, and general knowledge (p < 0.05). The overall awareness of HPV among women with HPV infection in Shanghai requires improvement.

Impact of HPV test results and emotional responses on psychosocial burden among Taiwanese women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus and is the cause of virtually all cervical cancers. Women undergoing HPV testing may experience significant psychosocial burdens, particularly those with a higher negative affect who test positive for the virus. This study investigates the relationships among test results, anxiety/depression, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and psychosocial burden in women receiving their HPV test reports.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, observational study design. The data were collected after women received their HPV test reports. A total of 273 women were recruited for this survey study from June 2018 to April 2020 in a medical center in North Taiwan. Data were collected on an author-designed demographic-disease survey, the European Quality of Life Index Version 5D 5-Level-Anxiety/Depression, the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form, and the HPV Impact Profile questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent-sample t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

Among 273 women, 171 (62.6%) received HPV-positive results. Women with positive HPV test results reported significantly higher levels of anxiety/depression and NA compared to those with negative results. Additionally, those with positive results experienced greater psychosocial burden and worse sexual impact. Furthermore, age, NA, and PA were significant predictors of psychosocial burden in women who tested positive for HPV. Specifically, younger age, higher NA, and lower PA were significantly associated with increased psychosocial burden in women who received positive test results.

CONCLUSION

Health-care providers should pay attention to the test results and women's emotional status, especially for women who have positive results and exhibit negative moods. To alleviate the psychosocial burden in women who have positive test results and high negative moods, professionals could provide timely HPV information and reserve time for women to ask questions, which could decrease their distress after receiving the report.

A qualitative study of ethnic Korean women and men's experiences of HPV and HPV vaccination in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 42.5% of adults aged 18-59 in the United States is estimated to be affected by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, Asian Americans have the lowest HPV vaccination initiation rate compared to other racial groups. This study aims to explore the experiences of HPV and the HPV vaccination among ethnic Korean women and men in the United States.

METHODS

A total of 33 ethnic Korean and Korean Americans aged 27-45 years living in the U.S. were recruited via word-of-mouth and social media using a purposive sampling strategy. They participated in an online survey. Of the 33 participants, 29 (14 females and 15 males) participated in in-depth interviews via password-protected Zoom. A content analysis approach was used to analyze the interviews.

RESULTS

Only 32% of participants had received the HPV vaccine at least once (female: 35.3%, male: 12.5%). Six major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine, and HPV-associated cancers; (2) attitudes toward the HPV vaccine; (3) barriers to HPV vaccination; (4) women's experiences and preferences for pap smear testing; (5) experiences with HPV diagnosis; and (6) HPV and HPV vaccination education preferences.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight cultural factors that may impede the discussion about and uptake of HPV vaccination and HPV-associated cancer screening, which emphasize the need for culturally appropriate interventions to overcome stigma around HPV and enhance vaccination rates. Healthcare providers should consider ethnic and cross-cultural differences perceptions to effectively HPV-related health information. This study provides insight into the experiences and understanding of HPV and vaccination among ethnic Korean men and women, laying the groundwork for developing culturally-tailored programs that sim to increase HPV vaccination rates and mitigate the stigma and impact of HPV-related disease in this community.