Relationship between the Intention to Repeat a Papanicolaou Smear Test and Affective Response to a Previous Test among Korean Women.

Abstract

The purposes of this descriptive cross-sectional study were to describe (1) women’s affective (emotional) responses before, during, and after a Papanicolaou smear test and after receiving the test result and (2) the difference in affective response between women who did or did not intend to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test in the future. The theory of reasoned action was used as the theoretical basis for this study. Participants were selected by convenience sampling and included 515 women aged 24 to 69 years who had a previous Papanicolaou smear test, did not have cervical cancer, and who agreed to participate. Affective response was measured with an instrument developed by Park. Intention to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test was measured with a single question on intention of repeating the Papanicolaou smear test. Women with intention to repeat the Papanicolaou smear test showed higher apprehension after the test (t = 2.695, P = .04) and higher positive affective responses such as feeling relieved, great, and comfortable after receiving the test result (t = 3.014, P = .003). This result suggests that women with the intention to repeat the test are more concerned with the test result and that emotional relief after confirming normal findings is an important motivator for repeating the Papanicolaou smear test.