Information needs, information sources and barriers to access information of HPV+/normal pap women of a suburban area of Buenos Aires

SZWARC, LUCILA; SANCHEZ ANTELO VICTORIA; PAOLINO MELISA; ARROSSI SILVINA

Congreso; 34th International Conference of the International Papillomavirus Society; 2021

Introduction: HPV positive women with a normal pap smear (HPV+/normal pap) present a high risk of developing high-grade lesions but they have very low levels of adherence in Argentina. The study was aimed at identifying the information needs, sources of information and barriers to access information of HPV+/normal pap women, after having received their screening results.Methods: With a qualitative research strategy, we conducted 22 semi-structured virtual interviews with HPV+/normal pap women. Eligible women were between 30 and 64 years old and reside in Ituzaingó, a suburban area of Buenos Aires province. The interviews were coded following the guidelines of grounded theory. Based on women’s interviews, we coded emergent categories as subthemes as follows: “information needs” (perceived and unperceived), “information sources” and “barriers to access information”.Results: Perceived information needs: 1) Information on the sexual transmission of the virus; dismantling the association between sexual transmission and infidelity; possibility of non-sexual transmission; 2) diagnose meaning and its relationship with cancer; 3) follow-up and absence of treatment. Unperceived information needs: 1) association between HPV+ result and other gynaecological health problems; 2) socio-cultural misconceptions about HPV (i.e. cancer as a latent disease that may be awakened in the body, high risk HPV affecting only young women with multiple sexual partners). Information sources: 1) medical visit (main source); 2) internet; 3) close relatives. Barriers to access information: 1) false or inaccurate information from the internet; 2) insufficient information provided by health professionals during consultation; 3) difficulties to raise questions during medical consultation and 4) health system inaccessibility. Conclusions: It is crucial to strengthen the processes for delivering results during the medical consultation. New formats to provide information to HPV+ women (with normal and abnormal pap smear) should be considered.