Awareness and intent of Pap testing among sexually active university students in Korea
Unmarried women have not been a target group for cervical cancer prevention in Korea. This study was performed to identify the awareness of Pap testing in unmarried university students in Korea, and to investigate the factors associated with the intention to undergo Pap testing.
Methods: 125 unmarried university students sexually active completed a web-based survey. Awareness of the importance of the Pap test, confidence in Pap testing, intention to undergo the test, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control were analysed using independent t-tests. Associations between measurement variables and intention to undergo Pap testing were analysed using correlation analysis and stepwise multiple (p<.005).
Results: Most participants perceived that the need for regular Pap testing was less important (score, 75.78) than other methods of cervical cancer prevention. They were not confident that is was an effective method of cervical cancer prevention for themselves (score, 53.09). The subjective norm was the most important predictor of intention to undergo Pap testing.
Conclusions: Even students were sexually active, they less perceived Pap screening awareness. Social influence was an important factor that could be used to increase the intention to receive a Pap test in the university student population. Strategies to increase the intention to undergo Pap screening should be increased social influence and confidence of regular testing, and should be decreased perceived barriers.
