ArticleSexually transmitted infections2022
Patterns of anxiety and distress over 12 months following participation in HPV primary screening.
Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Testing key messages about extending cervical screening intervals.Patient education and counseling · 2022Trial
- Psychological distress and dyadic trust in Italian women awaiting colposcopy after positive cervical cancer screening: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2026Observational
- Real-world evaluation of a population-based vaginal self-sampling program for cervical cancer prevention in Region Skåne, Sweden.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2026Article
- Sticky black stain that steals everything from you: the lived experiences of women living with human papillomavirus in Tehran, Iran.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Women's reasoning and experience in the cervical cancer screening programme when offered a self-sampling HPV test: a qualitative content analysis.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Article
- Concurrent depression and anxiety in women undergoing additional diagnostic procedures due to positive screening for cervical cancer.PloS one · 2026Observational
- Association between female HPV infection, inflammatory markers and depression: a cross-sectional and mediation analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Impact of Loop Electrosurgical Excision (LEEP/LLETZ) on the Quality of Sexual Life in Women of Reproductive Age-A Prospective Longitudinal Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Impact of HPV test results and emotional responses on psychosocial burden among Taiwanese women: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2025Observational
- Integrated HPV Testing, TCT, and Colposcopic VIA/VILI Improves Detection Rate for HSIL and Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort in China.International journal of women's health · 2025Article
- PBMJ open · 2023Article
- Review
- Psychosocial impact of testing human papillomavirus positive in Australia's human papillomavirus-based cervical screening program: A cross-sectional survey.Psycho-oncology · 2022Article
- Extension of cervical screening intervals with primary human papillomavirus testing: observational study of English screening pilot data.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2022Observational
- The most influential factors in the psychological impact of an abnormal cervical screening result: A cross-sectional study.Health psychology openArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesMany countries are now using primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for cervical screening, testing for high-risk HPV and using cytology as triage. An HPV-positive result can have an adverse psychological impact, at least in the short term. In this paper, we explore the psychological impact of primary HPV screening over 12 months.
methodsWomen were surveyed soon after receiving their results (n=1133) and 6 (n=762) and 12 months (n=537) later. Primary outcomes were anxiety (Short-Form State Anxiety Inventory-6) and distress (General Health Questionnaire-12). Secondary outcomes included concern, worry about cervical cancer and reassurance. Mixed-effects regression models were used to explore differences at each time point and change over time across four groups according to their baseline result: control (HPV negative/HPV cleared/normal cytology and not tested for HPV); HPV positive with normal cytology; HPV positive with abnormal cytology; and HPV persistent (ie, second consecutive HPV-positive result).
resultsWomen who were HPV positive with abnormal cytology had the highest anxiety scores at baseline (mean=42.2, SD: 15.0), but this had declined by 12 months (mean=37.0, SD: 11.7) and was closer to being within the 'normal' range (scores between 34 and 36 are considered 'normal'). This group also had the highest distress at baseline (mean=3.3, SD: 3.8, scores of 3+ indicate case-level distress), but the lowest distress at 12 months (mean=1.9, SD: 3.1). At 6 and 12 months, there were no between-group differences in anxiety or distress for any HPV-positive result group when compared with the control group. The control group were less concerned and more reassured about their result at 6 and 12 months than the HPV-positive with normal cytology group.
conclusionsOur findings suggest the initial adverse impact of an HPV-positive screening result on anxiety and distress diminishes over time. Specific concerns about the result may be longer lasting and efforts should be made to address them.
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