Are women ready for the new cervical screening protocol in England? A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of views about human papillomavirus testing.

BACKGROUND: A new protocol for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing within the UK cervical screening programme commenced in April 2011, creating new patient experiences. This is the first review to synthesise a substantial body of international evidence of women's information needs, views and preferences regarding HPV testing. We aimed to inform the development of educational materials to promote informed choice, reduce anxiety and improve disease control.
METHODS: We searched 12 bibliographic databases. Two reviewers independently screened papers and assessed study quality; disagreements were resolved by discussion. Results were extracted verbatim and authors' findings treated as primary data. Studies were synthesised collaboratively using framework methods.
RESULTS: We synthesised findings from 17 studies. Women had overwhelmingly negative concerns; an HPV diagnosis was daunting, had associated problems of disclosure of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), impacted on relationships and provoked fear of stigmatisation. Nevertheless, many thought HPV testing could be a preferable alternative to repeat cytology. Knowledge was poor; women struggled to interpret limited information in the context of existing knowledge about STIs and cervical cancer.
CONCLUSION: Women are likely to be poorly informed, have limited understanding and many unanswered questions. This could increase anxiety and reduce ability to make informed choices, presenting a substantial challenge for those who design and provide information.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 account for 70% of cervical cancers. England’s NHS Cervical Screening Programme was the first in the United Kingdom to launch a new protocol of HPV triage in April 2011 (Department of Health, 2011). Women with borderline or mild dyskaryosis will be routinely tested for HPV, and triaged according to the results (Figure 1; NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, 2010). High-risk human papillomavirus test-positive women will be fast-tracked to colposcopy, replacing usual practice of cytological surveillance at six monthly intervals. HPV test-negative women, deemed low risk for cervical cancer, will return to routine age-sensitive screening rather than cytological surveillance (Figure 1; NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, 2010; NHSCSP, 2010). These new clinical pathways generate new patient experiences. Acceptability to women is likely to be closely related to knowledge and understanding; poor understanding of test results is associated with anxiety (Maissi ).

Figure 1

Cervical screening protocols before and after the introduction of HPV testing.

Both the natural history of HPV and this new protocol are complex. To achieve good uptake in cervical cancer prevention while adequately informing women, HPV information should be evidence-based, sensitive to UK culture and practice, with accurate risk/benefit portrayal and estimation of uncertainty and consequences (Barratt ; Bekker, 2010). This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative and quantitative evidence of people’s information needs, views and preferences regarding HPV testing, to inform the development of HPV educational materials to promote the key outcomes of informed choice, minimal anxiety and adequate uptake needed for disease control.

Materials and Methods

The review was conducted using methodology reported in the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination report 4 (NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2001), supplemented by Harden’s recommendations for systematic reviews of qualitative studies (Harden ). We also adhered to guidance on methods for conducting and reporting systematic reviews in the PRISMA statement, where it could be applied to reviews of qualitative studies (Moher ).

We searched 12 electronic databases using thesaurus terms and keywords relating to HPV and vaccination or testing (Appendix 1). Bibliographies of included studies were hand-searched. Searches were conducted in June 2009, updated in July 2010, and limited to 1980 onwards, when relevant papers began to appear. Two (of three) reviewers (MH, RL and DP) independently screened titles and abstracts for relevance, assessed relevant papers against inclusion criteria and considered study quality. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies of HPV testing

	Inclusion	Exclusion
Population	Any participants who are asked about HPV testing in the context of either hypothetical scenarios or personal experience of testing
Intervention	HPV testing in the context of cervical screening	Studies about HPV infection, or cervical screening, not HPV testing Studies about the testing process, for example, self-sampling versus conventional methods
Outcomes	People’s views on HPV testing, such as their understanding, attitude, perception, acceptability, concerns and information needs	Studies that assess participants’ knowledge and/or behaviour, not their views
Study design	Any study design used to elicit qualitative or quantitative data relating to participants’ views about HPV testing
Reporting	Studies must be reported in sufficient detail for meaningful data extraction	Studies with insufficient detail, for example, available only as abstracts

Abbreviation: HPV=human papillomavirus.

Qualitative studies were appraised using a quality checklist (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2009). We excluded quotations from the original data and treated authors’ findings as primary data. Synthesists differ on what counts as data from primary studies (Major and Savin-Baden, 2010). We considered authors’ findings to be syntheses of entire primary data-sets, whereas quotations were illustrative examples of specific points. Studies were synthesised collaboratively by two reviewers (MH and DP) using the framework approach (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). Data were repeatedly read to achieve familiarity, themes were identified and organised into categories, reviewed and refined until both reviewers agreed on the validity of the thematic framework. Data were then coded, the framework applied and again reviewed and refined until consensus was reached (Swallow ).

Surveys were assessed using a quality checklist adapted from Pettigrew and Roberts (2006), and summarised using narrative synthesis methods (Popay ).

Results

Summary of included studies

Sixteen surveys or qualitative studies and one mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) study (data from this study are reported with qualitative and quantitative results, therefore it may appear to be counted twice) met our inclusion criteria (Figure 2). Publication dates ranged between 1997 and 2010; most recent data collection reported in May 2007; thus most studies reflect findings that predate HPV vaccination and associated public information.

Figure 2

PRISMA flowchart. *Some studies were reported in more than one publication. †Data from this study are reported with qualitative and quantitative results as appropriate.

Qualitative studies

Eleven qualitative studies were included (Table 2). Studies reporting results in more than one publication (Kahn ; Daley ) were consolidated. Included studies were from United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada and all used either focus groups or face-to-face interviews. Methods of analysis were grounded theory, thematic analysis or framework. Most recruited adult women; the majority of participants reflected UK cervical screening age. Study details are fully described in Table 2.

Table 2

Included qualitative studies

Study, Location	Data collection method and date	Participant details a	Analysis	Type of data collected or relevant questions asked
Anhang, 2004 Massachusetts, USA	Focus groups based on brief description of HPV August/September 2002	48 women aged 18–55+ (years) from low-income and minority populations; 44% Hispanic, 40% white; 73% educated to high school level or less	Grounded theory	Topics included current level of HPV knowledge, what information they would like to receive, how they imagined it would feel to receive a positive HPV test result, and whether they would like to be tested
Brown, 2007 Ontario, Canada	Face-to-face interviews based on HPV information and case scenario Date not reported	20 women aged 25–83– a random sample of adult females in Ontario 65% Had college or university education	Thematic analysis	Women were asked views on four different treatment options for a case scenario of abnormal cytology: colposcopy; repeat Pap test; HPV test; discuss with primary care physician
Daley, 2010 Urban and rural South East, USA	Face-to-face interviews based on experience of HPV testing October 2001–September 2005	52 women recruited in gynaecological clinics, aged 18–44 years, who had abnormal cytology and were HPV positive 75% White, 11% Hispanic	Thematic analysis	Topic guide included knowledge of HPV, emotional responses to diagnosis, disclosure of test results and changes in health behaviour
Fernandez, 2009 Brownsville, TX, USA	Focus groups based on case scenario 2005	41 Hispanic adults aged 19–76 years (30 female) recruited in a poor area with high rates of cervical cancer	Thematic analysis	Topic guide included HPV awareness, knowledge and attitudes Reactions to learning about an HPV diagnosis were based on scenarios of a woman hearing her Pap test result, HPV+ status and disclosing her status to her partner
Kahn, 2007 Cincinnati, OH, USA	Baseline questionnaire followed by face-to-face interview 2 weeks later on receipt of test results July 2002/January 2003	Sexually active females aged 14–21, recruited in an urban teen health centre 51% HPV positive, 23% abnormal cytology 82% non-Hispanic Black	Framework	Two topic guides used: one emphasised personal meaning of test results (perception of risk, personal liability etc), a second was modified to focus on cognitive understanding of test results and personal experience of STIs and cancer
Marlow, 2009 London, UK	Face-to-face interviews based on brief information about HPV Date not reported	21 women aged 18–53 years recruited in a University setting by ‘snowballing’. 95% White British 76% had university education.	Framework	Women were asked what information they would need to be sufficiently informed to make a decision about HPV testing
McCaffery, 2003 Greater Manchester, UK	Eight focus groups based on brief information about HPV and HPV testing July/September 2000	71 women aged 20–59 years; 28% Pakistani, 27% Indian, 22% African-Caribbean, 22% White British; 35% had some tertiary education; 76% of these were Indian or Pakistani	Framework	Topic guide focused on reactions to HPV as an STI linked to cervical cancer; anticipated reactions to testing positive for HPV; partner, family and community attitudes to HPV testing, and religious and cultural influences
McCaffery, 2005 Sydney & surrounds, Australia	Face-to-face interviews based on experience of testing June/December 2002	20 women of screening age who were HPV positive and had abnormal cytology. 68% Anglo-Australian. 47% Had tertiary education.	Framework	Topic guide covered issues relating to the diagnosis of HPV and cervical screening, women’s psychological response to their HPV infection, their understanding of HPV and their information needs and preferences
McCaffery, 2006 Manchester & London, UK	Face-to-face interviews based on experience of testing June 2001/December 2003	74 women aged 20–64 years recruited in clinical trials of HPV testing or colposcopy clinics 54% Abnormal cytology, 77% HPV positive 55% White, 23% South Asian, 22% African-Caribbean. 61% had tertiary education	Framework	Topic guide included screening history, understanding of HPV test, experience of smear test results and HPV diagnosis, understanding and disclosure of results, emotional impact, and experience of treatment or follow-up
Vanslyke, 2009 Albuquerque, NM, USA	Focus groups based on brief information about HPV and HPV testing ‘before vaccine publically available’	54 low-income Hispanic women aged 18–60 years recruited in community locations; 43% had only primary education; 63% had household income <$20 000	Thematic analysis	Topic guide included questions about cervical cancer and HPV, how participants would feel about being tested for HPV, and which of the three HPV prevention options they preferred and why: (1) fewer sexual partners; (2) condoms; and (3) vaccines
Waller, 2007b Manchester, UK	Face-to-face interviews following a second (12 month follow-up) HPV test Date not reported	30 women aged 20–50+ (years), HPV positive with normal cytology at baseline; some HPV positive and some negative at 12 month follow-up; 47% had tertiary education	Framework	Topic guide focused on emotional responses to the tests, differences between the impact of the two tests, disclosure of results, decisions about follow-up and feeling about future screening

Abbreviations: HPV=human papillomavirus; STI=sexually transmitted infection.

Age range, ethnicity, educational level and indicators of socio-economic status are given where data are available.

In five studies smear and HPV tests were conducted and results were known at the time of interview (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Kahn ; Waller ; Daley ). In two of these, participants had mixed results: HPV positive and negative; cytology normal and abnormal (McCaffery ; Kahn ). In two studies all were HPV positive and had abnormal cytology (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Daley ). In one, all were HPV positive but had normal cytology (Waller ), in this study participants were retested after 12 months and, if still HPV positive, offered the choice of retest after a further 12 months or immediate colposcopy. Six studies gave untested women information about HPV then sought views about HPV testing (McCaffery ; Anhang ; Brown ; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ; Marlow ).

Surveys

Seven surveys, from the United States, Australia and Canada, met our inclusion criteria (Table 3). Sample sizes ranged from 50 to 968. Four studies included participants with abnormal cytology. In one of these, participants were HPV positive (Daley ), in three their HPV status was unknown (Le ; McCaffery ; Patel ). In the remaining three studies, convenience samples of women were surveyed and selection criteria, if any, related to age, gender or ethnicity (Ferris ; Huang ; Papa ).

Table 3

Included surveys

Study, location	Setting	Data collection method, date and response rate	Participant details a	Summary of relevant questions	Summary of results
Daley, 2010 South East, USA	Routine annual gynaecological examinations in local clinics	Paper and pencil questionnaire administered in clinic October 2001/September 2005 RR 31%	154 women aged >18 years with abnormal cytology and HPV+69% White, 16% Hispanic	HPV knowledge, disclosure of HPV test results, emotional impact of HPV diagnosis	Only 39% correctly understood their own HPV diagnosis. 93% had disclosed their HPV status, 39% to a partner; 66% would disclose it to a future partner. 82% sought information from the internet, 70% from other sources. Negative responses included stigma (71%), anxiety (94%), stress (95%), anger (70%), confusion (71%), shock (70%) and self-blame (68%) but 95% agreed it could be worse. 26% thought HPV test results could change their future pregnancy plans
Ferris, 1997 Augusta, GA, USA	Waiting rooms in one civilian and one military family practice clinic and one obs and gynae clinic	Questionnaire self-completed in clinic Date not reported RR 99%	968 women aged >16 years; 55% black; 29% family income <$25K, 10% >$50K; 11% did not complete high school; 19% had tertiary education	Management preferences for case scenarios of ASCUS or LSIL based on test accuracy, potential discomfort and cost	Case scenario	Management preference
						Repeat smear test (%)	Cervicography or colposcopy (%)	HPV DNA test (%)
					ASCUS	68	35	7
					LSIL	14	78	8
					Test accuracy was the primary reason for women’s choice.
Huang, 2008 San Francisco, USA	University based and community based primary care practices and community health clinics	Telephone and face-to-face interviews October 2002/January 2006 RR 85%	865 women aged 50–80 years; 43% Asian, 30% White, 17% Latina; 39% did not complete high school; 31% income <$15 000	Awareness of HPV and previous HPV testing; desire for HPV test; desired frequency of smear tests if HPV test was positive	30% had heard of HPV and 7% had had an HPV test; 64% wanted to be tested for HPV. However, 78% would want frequent smear tests (>1 annually) if tested positive. 55% of women aged <65 years thought three yearly smear tests acceptable if HPV negative with normal cytology and 33% of women aged ⩾65 years would stop getting smear tests if HPV negative (+19% if physician recommended)
Le, 2004 Ottawa, Canada	University colposcopy clinic	Face-to-face interviews Date not reported RR 75%	100 women aged 18–75 years, 42% with minor abnormal cytology; 66% office workers with tertiary education; 20% manual workers	Knowledge of the role of HPV in CIN and the rationale behind HPV testing; preferences between six monthly colposcopy (standard practice) or HPV test and annual colposcopy if HPV negative	75% had little or no knowledge about the role of HPV in CIN; 84% had never heard of the HPV test, or had minimal knowledge. After explanation, 64% chose an HPV test with less frequent colposcopy follow-up if negative rather than six monthly colposopic surveillance until two consecutive clear results were obtained
McCaffery, 2008 Throughout Australia	Cervical screening in urban and rural family planning clinics across Australia	Postal questionnaires Date not reported RR 89%	106 women aged 16–70 years with minor abnormal cytology; 42% university graduates	After using a decision aid, women chose their preferred management for mildly abnormal cytology: (1) HPV test; (2) usual care (a repeat smear test)	Of the 94 women who made a management choice 65% chose to have HPV testing. Having children, having a previous abnormal smear and having higher distress scores were significantly associated with choosing HPV triage
Papa, 2009 MA, USA	Routine annual examinations in one university hospital based obs and gynae clinic	Questionnaire self-completed in clinic January–March 2007 RR not reported	50 women aged 30–69 years, 50% with history of abnormal cytology; 14% HPV; 88% white; 72% had tertiary education	Questions asked pre- and post-educational intervention: knowledge of HPV, pap smears and cervical cancer; feelings about being tested for HPV; concerns if tested positive; acceptability of HPV testing	10 of the 16 knowledge questions were answered correctly significantly more often after the education intervention. Concern about testing positive to HPV decreased from 60% to 27% after education but the most common concern, a future diagnosis of cervical cancer, increased slightly. Women did not feel particularly anxious about getting tested for HPV and were very likely to agree to it
Patel, 2008 Pittsburgh, PA, USA	Hospital colposcopy clinic serving mainly low-income women	Questionnaire distributed in clinic January–May 2007 RR not reported	202 women aged >18 years, 58% had >1 colposcopy visit; 58% white; 38% black; 41% high school education or less	Knowledge of HPV; preferred follow-up strategy after a diagnosis of CIN1: (1) smear test at 6 and 12 months (2) HPV test at 12 months	75% knew what HPV or the HPV test was; 40% knew HPV is associated with warts, abnormal smears, cervical cancer, and 65% that it is sexually transmitted. 87% felt knowing their HPV status made them feel less nervous and 67% would feel less nervous if they could have less frequent smears. However, 64% preferred follow-up to be a smear test at 6 and 12 months, rather than an HPV test in 1 year

Abbreviations: ASCUS=atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance; CIN=cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; HPV=human papillomavirus; LSIL=low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; RR=response rate.

Age range, ethnicity, educational level and indicators of socio-economic status are given where data are available.

Study quality

All included qualitative studies were considered by two reviewers to be of good to moderately good standard (Table 4). Only one survey was deemed to be good quality, that is, well conducted with a large sample size (>500) and high response rate (>80% Huang ; Table 5).

Table 4

Quality assessment of qualitative studies

	Anhang, 2004	Brown, 2007	Daley, 2010	Fernandez, 2009	Kahn, 2007	Marlow, 2003	McCaffery, 2003	McCaffery, 2005	McCaffery, 2006	Vanslyke, 2009	Waller, 2007b
Theoretical approach
1.1 Is a qualitative approach appropriate?
Appropriate	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Inappropriate
Unsure
1.2 Is the study clear in what it seeks to do?
Clear	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unclear
Mixed
Study design
2.1 How defensible/ rigorous is study design/ methodology?
Defensible	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Not defensible
Unsure		✓
Data collection
3.1 How well was data collection carried out?
Appropriate	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Inappropriate
Unsure/ unclear		✓
Validity
4.1 Is researcher’s role clearly described?
Clear				✓
Unclear
Not described	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
4.2 Is context clearly described?
Clear	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unclear		✓				✓
Unsure
4.3 Were methods reliable?
Reliable	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unreliable
Unsure		✓				✓
Analysis
5.1 Is data analysis sufficiently rigorous?
Rigorous	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Not rigorous
Unsure/unreported
5.2 Are the data ‘rich’?
Rich	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Poor
Poorly reported		✓				✓
5.3 Is the analysis reliable?
Reliable	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓			✓	✓
Unreliable
Unsure/unreported						✓		✓	✓
5.4 Are findings convincing?
Convincing	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Not convincing
Unsure
5.5 Are findings relevant to aims of the study?
Relevant	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Irrelevant
Part relevant						✓
Ethics
6.1 Clear and coherent reporting of ethical considerations?
Clear	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓
Unclear
Unsure/unreported										✓
Overall quality: G=good; M=moderately good	G	M	G	G	G	M	G	G	G	G	G

Table 5

Quality assessment of surveys

	Daley, 2010	Ferris, 1997	Huang, 2008	Le, 2004	McCaffery, 2008	Papa, 2009	Patel, 2008
Overall clarity of aims and method:
Is the study reported in sufficient detail and clarity for the reader to understand and make sense of it?	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Selection of the sample:
Could responders be different from non-responders, or from the population the sample was taken from?	L	✓	✓	✓	✓	R	R
Measurement issues:
Are the measures reported objective and reliable?	✓	?	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Survey methods:
Was the survey carried out in a trustworthy way?	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Data and statistical issues:
Was the analysis appropriately conducted?	S	✓	✓	S	S	S	✓
Bias
Is there evidence of any other biases (e.g., funding bias)?	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Abbreviations: L=low response rate (⩽60%); R=response rate not reported; S=small sample (⩽200); ?=scenarios were complex and questions ambiguous, representing a potential source of bias.

Evidence synthesis

Three main categories (and themes within them) emerged from the included studies.

The psychosocial burden of HPV infection

Emotional responses to diagnosis

Nine qualitative studies described participants’ emotional reactions to receiving an HPV diagnosis, either in reality (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Kahn ; Waller ; Daley ) or in response to hypothetical questions (McCaffery ; Anhang ; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ). All reported emotions such as worry, fear, anger, distress, anxiety, upset, shock and confusion. In one study a negative test result, following a previous positive result, was associated with feelings of relief or happiness (Waller ). Some participants found awareness of their HPV status reassuring or empowering (McCaffery ; Anhang ; Kahn ; Vanslyke ), because, if positive, they felt they could do something about it.

Women… characterised the HPV test result as a three-part negative diagnosis…they find out that (1) they have an abnormal result, (2) a sexually transmitted disease that is not curable and (3) a condition that may progress to cancer. (Daley ) (USA, abnormal cytology, all HPV+)

A number of participants, particularly those with abnormal result, believed that early discovery of an abnormal test result enabled them to take action to prevent later disease. (Kahn ) (USA, all tested, 23% abnormal cytology, 51% HPV+)

Three USA surveys reported emotional reactions to HPV test results; two of these had small samples and all three had a low or unreported response rate. In one all participants had abnormal cytology and were HPV positive (Daley ). Negative responses included stigma (71%), anxiety (94%), stress (95%), anger (70%), confusion (71%), shock (70%) and self-blame (68%); 26% thought their HPV test results could change their future pregnancy plans. However, there were also positive responses: 95% agreed that ‘it could be worse’, 63% were ‘hopeful’, 68% felt ‘in control’ and 20% ‘empowered’. For women attending a primary care clinic for their annual smear test, concern about testing positive for HPV decreased from 60 to 27% following an educational intervention but concern about a future diagnosis of cervical cancer increased slightly (Papa ). Of 202 women surveyed in a colposcopy clinic, 87% felt that knowing their HPV status made them feel less nervous (Patel ).

Anxiety associated with HPV-positive status

In four qualitative studies, specific worries for those who had received a positive HPV test result included possible transmission to a partner, risk of cervical cancer, impact on sexual relationships and fertility, and fear of stigma and blame (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Waller ; Daley ).

These (feelings) included fear and anxiety about cancer and becoming ill, concerns about fertility, feelings of being unclean because of the sexually transmitted nature of HPV, concerns about transmission and sexual relationships, a negative impact on feelings about sex, and relationship issues including blaming a partner for the infection. (Waller ) (UK, normal cytology, all HPV+ at baseline)

Six qualitative studies described worry about the definition of HPV as an sexually transmitted infection (STI; Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Brown ; Kahn ; Daley ). For many participants, especially in specific ethnic and religious groups (South Asian, Hispanic, Roman Catholic), associations with promiscuity and immoral behaviour led to feelings of stigma, shame and embarrassment, and potentially grave consequences.

They associated stigma with sexual transmission, linking HPV transmission to infidelity, immorality and degenerate behaviour. They clearly anticipated extreme [psychological] discomfort if informed of having positive test results. (Brown ) (Canada, hypothetical)

There were also similarities between the South Asian group and the white British and African Caribbean women with strong religious beliefs. Among these women there was some existing stigma around an abnormal smear, and a direct link with sexual activity and promiscuity.(McCaffery ) (UK, all tested, 54% abnormal cytology, 77% HPV+)

However, one small US survey of a mainly white population tests reported that, following an educational intervention, participants did not feel particularly anxious about getting tested for HPV and were very likely to agree to it (Papa ).

The effect of HPV diagnosis on relationships

The effect of an HPV diagnosis on relationships was explored in seven qualitative studies, four relating to real situations (McCaffery ; Kahn ; Waller ; Daley ) and three to hypothetical questions (McCaffery ; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ). In response to hypothetical situations, both men and women would worry that their partner had been unfaithful or that they themselves would be accused of infidelity. They were concerned about the effect this would have on their relationship, particularly if there were already relationship problems. For women who had received HPV positive test results, similar concerns were expressed and appeared to be connected with participants’ assumptions that the infection must have come from a current or recent partner.

… in relationships where there had been recent discord, infidelity, or had ended unhappily, the HPV test result led to questions about trust and fidelity and accusations of blame for the infection. (McCaffery ) (UK, all tested, 54% abnormal cytology, 77% HPV+)

Most women said that their partner would be angry, doubt their fidelity, and possibly abandon them... While some men understood that their own infidelity could be the cause of their partner’s infection, most stated that their first reaction would be to question the woman’s faithfulness. (Fernandez ) (USA, hypothetical)

In two qualitative studies, where participants realised that HPV infection could lie dormant for a considerable period and therefore could have been acquired from their own or their partners’ previous relationships, less anxiety was expressed (McCaffery ; Waller ). Failure to understand this led participants to believe that the test was a reliable method of establishing fidelity (McCaffery ; Kahn ). None of the included surveys addressed this theme.

Particularly reassuring was the knowledge that the virus could lie dormant for a long time so exposure was not necessarily recent and did not mean that a partner had been unfaithful. (Waller ) (UK, normal cytology, all HPV+ at baseline)

An unexpected finding was the frequency with which participants noted that testing was an effective way to monitor one’s sexual partners. (Kahn ) (USA, all tested, 23% abnormal cytology, 51% HPV+)

Participants were divided about feelings of guilt relating to a positive HPV diagnosis. Some women considered themselves at least partially to blame (McCaffery ; Kahn ; Daley ). However, some felt that guilt was not necessary because STIs, such as HPV, are so common (McCaffery ; Kahn ), or that there is no guilt attached to HPV if it is perceived as cancer rather than an STI (Kahn ). None of the included surveys addressed this theme.

Reasons given for feeling guilty focused on not taking care of oneself, not practising safe sexual behaviours, and not monitoring one’s sexual partner…they would share responsibility because they stayed with him despite knowing he was unfaithful, did not insist that he use a condom, or did not monitor him carefully enough. (Kahn ) (USA, all tested, 23% abnormal cytology, 51% HPV+)

Among this group of women, common STIs such as HPV were seen as an inevitable part of sexual activity. (McCaffery ) (UK, all tested, 54% abnormal cytology, 77% HPV+)

Concerns about disclosure of HPV status

Another issue that added to the burden of anxiety was disclosure (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Kahn ; Waller ; Marlow ; Daley ); it was noted that the majority of women told, or intended to tell, someone that they had received a positive HPV test result (Kahn ; Daley ). The reason some participants gave was a sense of responsibility to past, current and future sexual partners. Others wanted support from the people they disclosed their test results to, but this was not always possible. Where participants had disclosed their HPV-positive status, some reported limited supportive response because of a general lack of knowledge about the virus (McCaffery ; Waller ). Reasons women mentioned for not disclosing their positive HPV test result included feelings of stigma and shame, as well as feeling unable to explain their result or not thinking it was necessary (McCaffery ; Kahn ; Waller ). In one study, some participants avoided talking to their partners about their positive HPV test result by focussing instead on their smear test result (McCaffery ). However, it was also acknowledged that, among couples who were open with each other about their sexual history, disclosure did not pose problems (McCaffery ).

For women entering new relationships testing positive led to worries about transmitting the infection to their new partner and anxieties about disclosing their infection to someone they had only recently met. (McCaffery ) (UK, all tested, 54% abnormal cytology, 77% HPV+)

For some women feeling anxious led them to disclose their result and this helped lessen their concerns when friends and family were reassuring and supportive. For others disclosure was unhelpful because friends and family had not heard of HPV and so were not able to provide the support that had been hoped for. (Waller ) (UK, normal cytology, all HPV+ at baseline)

One US survey of women, who had tested HPV positive and who had abnormal smear test results (Daley ), explored intentions to disclose their HPV status to others and found that 93% had, most commonly to a partner (39%), female friend (28%) or their mother (18%), and 66% said they would disclose it to a future partner. This was a small survey with a risk of response bias.

The acceptability of HPV testing and triage

Acceptability of HPV testing

Questions about the acceptability of HPV testing for women were mainly asked in hypothetical scenarios in the qualitative studies. In five out of six of these, participants were asked how they would feel about HPV testing if it were available (McCaffery ; Anhang ; Brown ; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ). Although most found the idea of testing acceptable, some participants worried that the test would be embarrassing or uncomfortable, feared the consequences of a positive outcome or, being in a monogamous relationship, saw no need for it. There was also more resistance to HPV testing among South Asian and Roman Catholic groups.

For the Indian and Pakistani women, testing was perceived to reflect non-traditional cultural or religious practices concerning sex and monogamy… Among the White British women taboos surrounding sex within Catholic families were also raised as potentially restrictive to women participating in HPV testing. (McCaffery ) (UK, hypothetical)

The stigma associated with testing HPV positive did not discourage them from recognising value of HPV testing…The desire to gain knowledge from test results and to act responsibly outweighed the stigma attached to carrying the virus. (Brown ) (Canada, hypothetical)

In one hypothetical study (Brown ), women thought HPV testing was preferable to repeat smear tests but in another study where HPV-positive participants had a second HPV test after 12 months (Waller ), most preferred the reassurance of colposcopy to a further 12 month wait and a third HPV test.

The primary reasons for supporting this choice (HPV test) were the convenience of a single testing visit and the reduced anxiety involved with not having to undergo repeat cytology in 6 months. The key argument in favour of HPV testing, overall, was a faster, more definitive result that guided them to appropriate options. (Brown ) (Canada, hypothetical)

Anxiety was one reason for choosing to have a colposcopy immediately… There was a sense among some women that waiting another year they might allow something to develop which could otherwise be dealt with now. This was associated with the belief that cancer is a disease that can progress rapidly and therefore early detection and treatment must be important. (Waller ) (UK, normal cytology, all HPV+ at baseline)

The triage process

Six included surveys sought views on HPV triage. In one study, 968 women in US primary care were given two case scenarios for mildly abnormal cytology. After reading information, they were asked to choose their follow-up preferences for each from repeat smear test, HPV test, colposcopy or cervicography (Ferris ). Only 7 and 8% preferred an HPV test, but the information was complex and choices only based on discomfort, accuracy and cost. The low risk of mild abnormalities progressing to cervical cancer following a negative HPV test was not explained.

In a well-conducted survey in US primary care, 865 older women (aged 50–80 years) were asked about the acceptability of HPV testing and its impact on their preferences for cervical screening (Huang ). Acceptability was high; 64% wanted to be tested, but 78% wanted more frequent smear tests (>1 annually) if they tested positive. However, 55% of those under 65 years would accept three yearly smear tests if they tested HPV negative and had normal cytology, and 33% of those over 65 would be happy to stop cervical screening altogether if they had negative results.

Two surveys recruited women in colposcopy clinics. One was a Canadian study in which 100 women chose between two follow-up options, either six monthly colposcopy until two consecutive normal examinations and cytology results (standard practice) or HPV test and one annual colposcopy visit if HPV negative (Le ), 64% chose the HPV test to triage the need for frequent colposcopy follow-up. The other sought the preferences of 202 US women after a diagnosis of grade one cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1) between a smear test at 6 and 12 months or an HPV test at 12 months (Patel ). In this study, 67% said they would feel less nervous if they could have less frequent smears, yet 64% preferred follow-up to be a smear test at 6 and 12 months rather than an HPV test in 1 year, and 13% wanted both.

Finally, in one Australian survey, 94 women with mildly abnormal smear test results were given a decision aid and asked to choose between a repeat smear test (usual care) and an HPV test; 65% chose the HPV test (McCaffery ).

The importance of informed consent

In two hypothetical qualitative studies, where there was overall support for HPV testing, participants mentioned the importance of informed consent (Brown ; Vanslyke ). Both women who were tested and those who were not wanted to know more about the testing procedure (Waller ; Vanslyke ; Marlow ).

Across groups, participants spoke emphatically about the importance of women giving express consent prior to being tested for HPV, and said they would feel violated, tricked or angry if they were tested without their knowledge. (Vanslyke ) (USA, hypothetical)

Information needs

Content and quality of information

Among the qualitative studies, women emphasised that the content and quality of information was important and that unclear information could be misleading and unhelpful (McCaffery ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ). One study drew attention to the difficulty people had in interpreting new information about HPV in the context of their existing knowledge (Fernandez ), and in three, participants had sought information from the media, the internet or other sources (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Waller ; Daley ).

It was recognised in all groups that clear and accurate information was critical to everyone’s response to HPV and the potential impact of testing... ‘Ignorance causes many problems’. (McCaffery ) (UK, hypothetical)

Throughout the discussions, participants continued to show confusion about the new information as they attempted to fit it into their current schemas for sexually transmitted diseases, infection, cancer and other illness. (Fernandez ) (USA, hypothetical)

One US survey of 154 women who had tested HPV positive and had abnormal smear test results (Daley ) found that 82% had sought information about HPV from the internet and 70% from other sources. However, only 31% responded.

Unanswered questions

Specific queries were raised in most of the studies including questions related to HPV transmission (McCaffery ; Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ; Marlow ; Daley ), prevention (Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Vanslyke ; Marlow ; Daley ), symptoms (Anhang ; Vanslyke ; Fernandez ; Marlow ), risk factors for HPV infection and cervical cancer (Anhang ; Marlow ) and whether HPV could cause other cancers or genital warts (McCaffery ; Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Marlow ).

… many asked whether HPV could be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy or delivery. (Anhang ) (USA, hypothetical)

Information concerning a possible cure was sought. Some women were curious about the preventive properties of condoms. (Daley ) (USA, abnormal cytology, all HPV+)

All women wanted to know the cause of HPV and once told it was sexually transmitted, they asked if this was the only way to contract it… if lifestyle factors such as diet or alcohol increased risk of infection… the potential for the virus to clear spontaneously and how long this took…(Marlow ) (UK, hypothetical)

Questions also arose about the natural history of HPV infection and its progression to cervical cancer including prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer (Marlow ), the timeline (Marlow ), and latency and regression (Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Waller ; Marlow ). In three studies participants wanted information about the consequences of HPV infection for sexual partners (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Fernandez ; Marlow ), and in two of these there were also questions about the effect of HPV on pregnancy and fertility (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; Marlow ).

They asked about prevalence of HPV…and wanted to know why so many women become infected… Women were particularly interested in the time between contracting HPV and developing cervical cancer …Younger women (18–25) asked many questions about the prevalence of cervical cancer... (Marlow ) (UK, hypothetical)

Women wanted to know how long the virus could lie dormant and whether it would ever completely clear. If women had had a previous abnormality in the past, they wanted to know whether this was a new infection or a recurrence of the previous infection… They also wanted to know what they could do about it themselves and whether HPV could impact on their fertility. (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005) (Australia, abnormal cytology, all HPV+)

Consequences for men were frequently mentioned, including whether men were just carriers or are likely to experience harmful effects. (Marlow ) (UK, hypothetical)

None of the included surveys reported whether there were any unanswered questions.

Misunderstandings and misinterpretations

In several of the qualitative studies, there was considerable confusion, misunderstanding or misinterpretation. This was particularly apparent in the studies where participants had not been tested for HPV and had minimal prior knowledge (Anhang ; McCaffery ; Fernandez ; Marlow ; Daley ).

A number of women tried to equate descriptions of HPV as low risk or high risk with risky behaviours or risky individuals, as opposed to strains of the virus. (Anhang ) (USA, hypothetical)

After being told that HPV caused most cases of cervical cancer, many women interpreted the diagnosis of HPV as equivalent to a diagnosis of cancer. (Fernandez ) (USA, hypothetical)

A particular source of anxiety and confusion for many participants was the association between HPV and warts (McCaffery ; Anhang ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Kahn ). People were confused about different types of warts, where on the body they might occur and how they were associated with different HPV types. This was compounded by doctors’ use of the term ‘wart virus’ when referring to high-risk HPV. Genital warts were thought to be disgusting and highly stigmatizing, and the possibility of developing them was a source of great distress (McCaffery ; McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Kahn ). None of the included surveys addressed this theme.

All the women interviewed were aware of genital warts and some thought there was an association with genital warts and cervical cancer. Because of the greater familiarity with genital warts and because clinicians often referred to HPV as the ‘wart virus’, many of the women interviewed thought they had genital warts on their cervix or elsewhere internally and were concerned they might spread to other visible genital areas or cause warts on their partner. (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005) (Australia, abnormal cytology, all HPV+)

(Some women) highlighted the negative connotations of the term ‘wart’, which seemed to have a long-standing stigma as an STI... ‘Warts’ in any form were viewed as unpleasant and unwanted and these perceptions were described as being rooted in early childhood experience. (McCaffery ) (UK, hypothetical)

Information that helped to reassure

Some of the information given to study participants helped to alleviate their anxiety (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Waller ). This included that HPV is common (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ), does not have symptoms (McCaffery ; Waller ) and can be cleared by the immune system (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ; Waller ). Reassurance also came from being informed that the transition from HPV infection to cervical cancer was slow (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005), that there is effective treatment for CIN (McCaffery ; Waller ), and that men rarely experience adverse effects (McCaffery ). Women’s distress associated with genital warts was allayed by the information that warts were unlikely to develop (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005; McCaffery ). Counter-intuitively the information that condoms are only partially effective in preventing transmission of HPV was also reassuring for two reasons: it relieved women’s sense of guilt for not using them and it removed the need to suggest their use, which could be interpreted by a partner as mistrust or suspicion (McCaffery ; McCaffery ).

Understanding that the impact of HPV on men was negligible…appeared to alleviate considerable anxiety. Importantly it meant that there was no necessity to inform sexual partners about the infection, which allowed women to avoid the challenges of disclosure. (McCaffery ) (UK, all tested, 54% abnormal cytology, 77% HPV+)

Information that the transition from HPV infection to cervical cancer is slow was an important factor which reduced some women’s anxiety about their infection. This appeared particularly useful for women following observational management. (McCaffery and Irwig, 2005) (Australia, abnormal cytology, all HPV+)

None of the included surveys addressed what information would offer reassurance.

Discussion

Summary of main findings

This is the first systematic review and qualitative synthesis of an emerging international literature on people’s views about HPV testing in the context of cervical screening. Three thematic categories emerged: the psychosocial burden of HPV infection, the acceptability of HPV testing and triage and information needs. Notably, the first was much more prominent in ‘real’ situations where participants expressed overwhelmingly negative concerns, suggesting that facing an HPV diagnosis in real life, with the associated problems of disclosure and fear of stigmatisation, was more daunting than women imagined in hypothetical scenarios. Many women in the studies of HPV testing as a hypothetical proposal thought it a preferable alternative to repeat smear tests, but did not want to be tested without their knowledge or without informed consent. Our review reveals an overwhelming lack of understanding about HPV with participants struggling to interpret limited information in the context of existing knowledge, impacting on the ability to make informed choices.

How this study fits in

Our findings confirm those of a review revealing poor knowledge about HPV infection (Klug ), inform the existing literature on patient education and HPV suggesting the need for simple, clear, targeted information (Waller ; Hall ; Klug ; McNair ; Roland ; Waller ; McCaffery ), and augment the literature on the psychological effects of testing HPV positive (McCaffery ; Maissi ; Wang ).

Study strengths and limitations

Our review was comprehensive and rigorously conducted. In August 2011, we repeated the searches and found no new studies meeting our inclusion criteria. There are conflicting views on what counts as data from primary qualitative studies, and whether original data, authors’ interpretations or both should be included (Major and Savin-Baden, 2010). We chose to include authors’ words as they represented syntheses of complete sets of original data of which the quotations were illustrative examples.

The review was limited by the scope of the primary studies. There were no relevant studies exploring the views of health professionals. Only one qualitative study and none of the surveys recruited male participants. None of the studies developed the theme of the impact of HPV on men, nor were there any that investigated the views of lesbian and bisexual women. Therefore, our review cannot reflect the views of these groups, although more than half of the study populations included different ethnic groups. However, there were limited comparisons between the groups and little in-depth exploration of the related cultural influences. Nevertheless, the rich data in the qualitative studies vividly conveyed women’s views. However, the small number and relatively poor quality of surveys only supplemented the qualitative studies to a limited extent.

It is possible that the research itself, by raising issues for discussion, may exacerbate anxiety; a study of women with abnormal cervical cytology unaware of their HPV status suggested that anxiety may be explained by factors other than learning of test results and may vary by ethnicity and lifestyle factors (Johnson ). Our findings should be placed in the context of the large number of tests having been carried out worldwide over the past 5 years.

None of the studies investigated views about HPV triage in the context of the UK model. Although some women may be relieved not to have repeat smear tests, others may find the idea of not acting on an abnormal test result difficult. None of the studies explored the introduction of HPV vaccination and how this would relate to cervical screening and HPV testing. Of the 17 included studies, only four qualitative studies and no surveys were conducted in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the extent to which their findings are applicable in UK settings is uncertain.

Implications for research, and UK policy and practice

More research may be needed to investigate the information needs of women at different stages of the cervical screening processes, and of specific groups including health professionals, HPV-vaccinated women, ethnic minority and other hard-to-reach groups. Women asked well-considered, thoughtfully-framed questions indicating real concern and desire to know more. Nevertheless, it is important for genuinely informed consent that people are not overwhelmed with information (O'Neill, 2003). Identification of the salient points allowing informed choice or uptake from this complex information remains a challenge to researchers. However, this review forms part of the ongoing, multi-method HPV Core Messages Study and our findings will be aggregated with the other study components (a systematic review of views on HPV vaccination, qualitative interviews with UK women and girls, and surveys of UK public and healthcare professionals) to inform the development of educational materials.

Some terminology, for example, ‘high-risk HPV’ and ‘wart virus’, was confusing or alarming and not clearly understood. Explanations about causation, risk of cervical abnormality or cancer, persistence/clearance of monogenic HPV and difference from genital wart viruses are needed. Valuable reassuring messages were: HPV is common, symptom free, usually clears without treatment and rarely has adverse effects on men. Although many women were strongly motivated to share their worries and concerns about an HPV-positive test, some could not, because of lack of understanding, inability to articulate their story, their confidantes’ inability to understand, or fear of stigma or blame. It may be helpful to emphasize the commonness of HPV so that it becomes normalized as an everyday infection. Familiarization with HPV through the vaccination programmed could help.

Conclusions

Faced with this new protocol, clear and consistent information and the avoidance of ambiguous or misleading terminology could alleviate women’s anxiety, relieve their burden of blame and allow them informed consent. This is a substantial challenge for those who design and provide information.