Women's decision to adopt or not adopt cervical cancer screening: Application of precaution adoption process model as the theoretical framework

BACKGROUND: The cancer is uncontrolled growth and spread of cells that affect almost all parts of the body. One of the most prevalent cancers in the female genital system is cervical cancer. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of educational intervention using the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) on cervical cancer screening behavior (Pap smear test) among women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this interventional study that was done in Karaj health centers (2016), women (aged 15-49 years) were in the third stage of behavior change process based on PAPM randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The data collection tool was a PAPM-based questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Gathered data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS 16 and statistical tests (t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Wilcoxon, Chi-squared, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney tests). RESULTS: The result showed that the stages of the decision-making process between the two groups were significantly different at the time immediately and 2 months after the intervention (P > 0.001). Also the results of the intervention based on the health belief model health belief model (HBM) components, regarding variables of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and subjective norms, the mean scores in the experimental group were significantly different between the three sections before, immediately, and 2 months after the intervention (P > 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides hints how persons could be influenced to move from the “Deciding about action” positions into to the stages of decided to act, adoption, and maintenance for promoting cervical cancer screening behavior.