AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF PRECOLPOSCOPY EDUCATION SESSIONS: WHAT DO WOMEN WANT TO KNOW?

Abstract

Nursing staff at a specialist hospital unit held five precolposcopy counselling and educational sessions; 47 women attended. We undertook a content analysis of the issues raised by the women. Our analysis confirms that there are significant fears concerning the procedure itself and underlying fears about cervical cancer. Women usually addressed these fears in an indirect manner. We still know little and most women have high anxiety when they receive abnormal Pap smear test results. Educational sessions can be useful in allaying fears and improving knowledge of the colposcopy procedure. We provide examples of how and why sessions are useful.