Nursing Open

Women’s perception of cervical cancer pap smear screening

AbstractAimThe study examines limiting factors associated with cervical cancer Pap smear screening among participants of reproductive age attending a healthcare facility in Namibia.DesignA cross‐sectional descriptive and exploratory study was conducted.MethodsThe data were collected using a face‐to‐face interview (qualitative) and a structured questionnaire (quantitative). A total of 49 participants (10 qualitative and 39 quantitative) aged 17–45 years participated in the study.ResultsThe study revealed that 80% of participants have limited knowledge of cervical cancer, while 49% have never done the test before and 8% were not informed of the screening and risk of the disease. Furthermore, 49% of participants responded that the screening fees are not affordable. Meanwhile, all participants (100%) complained of the long waiting period. Other main barriers for not screening were missed announcements and unsuitable time allocation. Knowledge on cervical cancer and turn‐up for Pap smear screening test was low among participants of reproductive age.

Quality of life in patients with endometrial carcinoma: A Longitudinal Study

AbstractAimTo investigate the quality of life in patients with endometrial carcinoma and provide theoretical basis for nursing care.DesignIn this study, 69 patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma from 2016–2018 were included in the cohort.MethodsSixty‐nine patients from our hospital who underwent endometrial cancer surgeries were selected. The SF‐36 was used to investigate and analyse the patients’ quality of life in the first, second and third months after their operations. Questionnaires were administered to analyse the factors affecting postoperative quality of life.ResultsQuality of life for the second and third months was obviously better than that for the first month after the operation (p < .05). Based on multivariate regression analysis, we found that patients with higher family income had better quality of life after surgery(p < .05). These results can provide some guidance for daily nursing work after endometrial cancer operation.

The Effect of an App‐Based Multimodal Cancer Rehabilitation Programme on Sense of Coherence of Women With Gynaecological Cancer: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

ABSTRACTAimTo investigate the effects and cost‐effectiveness of an app‐based multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme promoting sense of coherence for women treated for gynaecological cancer, and to understand participants' experience of the programme.DesignAn assessor‐blinded, concurrent mixed‐method randomised controlled trial.MethodsGynaecological cancer patients (N = 160) will be recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 80) or an attention control group (n = 80). The intervention group will receive the multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme over 12 weeks, in which they will access a Hong Kong‐adapted version of the Australian Women's Wellness after Cancer Programme via a mobile application, plus three virtual individual counselling sessions and reminder phone calls. The attention control group will receive usual care plus telephone calls to deliver general greetings. The outcome variables of sense of coherence, cancer‐specific distress, health‐promoting behaviours and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) will be measured at baseline (T0), on the completion of the programme (T1) and 12 weeks after intervention completion (T2). HRQoL of the participants will be further reassessed every 3 months from T2 till 12‐month post‐intervention to evaluate cost‐effectiveness. Semi‐structured interviews will explore the participants' experience and perceptions of the programme. This study will adhere to the CONSORT‐EHEALTH checklist.ConclusionThis study will offer the first empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of the multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme in enhancing sense of coherence, reducing cancer‐specific distress, promoting positive lifestyle changes, and improving quality of life for women treated for gynaecological cancer.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareWomen treated for gynaecological cancer experience unmet rehabilitation needs, yet healthcare professionals might not have the time or resources to meet these needs after intensive treatment is complete. This digital intervention could be incorporated into routine service delivery and adapted to other female cancer groups to improve patient outcomes.Reporting MethodThis protocol adhered to the SPRIT 2013 statement.Patient or Public ContributionNone.Trial RegistrationISRCTN registry number: ISRCTN17629214 (registered in November 2023)

Benefit‐finding experiences of cervical cancer survivors in rural Yunnan province, China: A qualitative study

AbstractAimTo explore and describe cervical cancer patients’ benefit‐finding experiences in rural China.DesignThe phenomenological approach was used in this qualitative study.MethodsIn‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 patients, from July to August of 2019. The data, which were collected, were analysed using the Colaizzi analysis procedure.ResultsAccording to the analysis results, the four benefit‐finding experience themes of the cervical cancer patients were, respectively, determined to be as follows: Health cognition and behaviour changes; reshaping of personal strength; focussing on relationships with others; and facing life positively.ConclusionsThe individual's cognition of health and their own strong qualities, and their external social support systems and information obtained and transmitted through interpersonal interactions, can promote the benefit finding. The findings suggest that medical staff should understand the traditional concepts of their patients, use their positive psychological potential, and build targeted nursing measures.

The prediction of cervical cancer screening beliefs based on big five personality traits

AbstractAimThe present study was designed with the aim to predict Pap smear screening beliefs based on Big Five personality traits.DesignThe present cross‐sectional study was conducted with 235 women over 18 years of age in Tehran (Iran) in 2018.MethodsThe data collection tools included the demographic information questionnaire, Pap Smear Belief Questionnaire (PSBQ) and the 10‐item measure of the Big Five personality traits.ResultsPeople with Agreeableness personality trait were more faced with risks and Barriers and factors associated with Pap smear screening beliefs; and those with Conscientiousness personality trait were more faced with risks and Barriers. Results of the present study can help to understand how the personality affects decision‐making and interactions. Therefore, consequences of counselling about screening beliefs and behavioural changes can be improved by personality‐based education.

Factors influencing the uptake of cervical cancer screening services in Tanzania: A health system perspective from national and district levels

AbstractAimThis study aimed at examining factors influencing uptake of cervical cancer screening services among women in Tanzania.DesignExploratory qualitative study.MethodsIn‐depth interviews were used to obtain information from 10 key Informants. Of these, three were officials (policy makers) from the Reproductive Health‐Cancer Unit of Ministry of Health and Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC), three were health managers working at Kinondoni Municipal health system reproductive and child health section and four were health workers from the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI). The study participants were purposively selected since they hold the responsibility of planning, coordinating and implementing the Tanzania cervical cancer prevention strategies at different levels of health system. The qualitative data analysis was done manually using thematic analysis.ResultsThe national health system factors influencing the early uptake of cervical cancer screening services include poor flow of information from national to lower level and inadequate availability of tools and instruments and shortage of skilled and competent staff. The district level health systems factors influencing uptake of cervical cancer screening services include inadequate number of partners, poor flow of information, poor collaboration with the private sector, no adequate provision of cervical cancer screening services due to lack of prioritization, poor creation of awareness and failure to use the health information system effectively.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer screening among women living with human immunodeficiency virus: Implication for prevention strategy uptake

AbstractAimTo explore the knowledge, attitude and practices of cervical cancer screening among HIV‐infected women in public health facilities in Lusaka, Zambia.DesignCross‐sectional study.MethodsThe study was conducted from 1st January 2020 to 28th February 2020. We used a structured questionnaire for data collection. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse relationships among latent variables (knowledge, attitude and practice).ResultsThe overall knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV were 6.86/11 (62.4%), 6.41/7 (91.6%) and 2.92/8 (36.5%), respectively. Overall, knowledge was positively and significantly associated with attitude (r = .53, p < .001) and practice (r = .38, p < 0.001). Additionally, attitude and practice were significantly associated (r = 0.29, p < .001). Our findings support the reinforcement of current public health interventional programmes to improve the knowledge about cervical cancer and screening uptake.