The psychological impact of illness among women experiencing human papillomavirus-related illness or screening interventions

Abstract

The present study describes the psychological impact of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related conditions or preventive interventions on Taiwanese women. Women with an HPV-related diagnosis or intervention within the past 3 months were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey before the receipt of HPV-related diagnostic results. Participants completed a 29-item HPV impact profile (HIP), which was a questionnaire designed to represent the full spectrum of potential HPV-related impacts. The HIP assesses worries and concerns; emotional impact; sexual impact; self-image; partner issues and transmission; interactions with doctors; and control/life impact. The final sample size was 249 women from three hospitals. The mean HIP score (0-100) was normal Pap: 28.2; abnormal Pap: 44.3; CIN: 47.5; genital warts: 62.5; abnormal Pap with high-risk HPV positive: 48.8. This study indicates that significant psychological impact is found in women diagnosed with abnormal Pap, CIN, high-risk HPV test positive and genital wart compared to women with a normal Pap. Women with genital warts had the highest psychological impact scores. This is the first quantitative data that can lay the ground work for future studies that enable the comparison of the effectiveness of different interventions in alleviating the psychological burden of HPV-associated infection and preventive interventions in Taiwan.