TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological effects women experience before and after a colposcopic examination and primary care appointment
AU - Ferris, Daron G.
AU - Gilman, Priscilla Ann
AU - Leyva Lopez, Ahidee G.
AU - Litaker, Mark S.
AU - Miller, Jill A.
AU - Macfee, Michael S.
PY - 2003/4
Y1 - 2003/4
N2 - Objective. To estimate the psychological impact, health and behavior concerns, and coping styles of women awaiting colposcopic examination compared with women awaiting a scheduled primary care appointment. Materials and methods. A convenience sample of 150 women presenting for a scheduled colposcopy examination and 201 women scheduled for a primary care appointment were assessed for demographic status, depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies/Depressed Mood Scale), anxiety, health beliefs and concerns, and coping style (Miller Behavioral Style Score). Subjects also completed a postexamination questionnaire. Mean responses were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results. Mean anxiety scores were considered "mild" and equivalent for women in the two groups. Although the colposcopy group had a significantly greater mean depression score (36.3) compared with the noncolposcopy group (33.4, p = .03, Wilcoxon test), both mean scores indicated mild depression. Women undergoing colposcopy reported greater mean scores for concern about their disease, the procedure, and potential consequences (p < .01, Wilcoxon test). Conclusion. Women scheduled for colposcopy have a similar level of mild anxiety and mild depression as women scheduled for a primary care appointment. Consequently, universal, instead of selective, use of anxiolytic agents before colposcopy appears unjustified. Avoidance of triage to colposcopy for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance Pap smear results may be unwarranted based on concerns for causing excessive anxiety. In fact, colposcopy provides substantial reassurance.
AB - Objective. To estimate the psychological impact, health and behavior concerns, and coping styles of women awaiting colposcopic examination compared with women awaiting a scheduled primary care appointment. Materials and methods. A convenience sample of 150 women presenting for a scheduled colposcopy examination and 201 women scheduled for a primary care appointment were assessed for demographic status, depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies/Depressed Mood Scale), anxiety, health beliefs and concerns, and coping style (Miller Behavioral Style Score). Subjects also completed a postexamination questionnaire. Mean responses were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results. Mean anxiety scores were considered "mild" and equivalent for women in the two groups. Although the colposcopy group had a significantly greater mean depression score (36.3) compared with the noncolposcopy group (33.4, p = .03, Wilcoxon test), both mean scores indicated mild depression. Women undergoing colposcopy reported greater mean scores for concern about their disease, the procedure, and potential consequences (p < .01, Wilcoxon test). Conclusion. Women scheduled for colposcopy have a similar level of mild anxiety and mild depression as women scheduled for a primary care appointment. Consequently, universal, instead of selective, use of anxiolytic agents before colposcopy appears unjustified. Avoidance of triage to colposcopy for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance Pap smear results may be unwarranted based on concerns for causing excessive anxiety. In fact, colposcopy provides substantial reassurance.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Colposcopy
KW - Depression
KW - Patient satisfaction and acceptance
KW - Psychological
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037395327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037395327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00128360-200304000-00003
DO - 10.1097/00128360-200304000-00003
M3 - Article
C2 - 17051051
AN - SCOPUS:0037395327
SN - 1089-2591
VL - 7
SP - 89
EP - 94
JO - Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease
JF - Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease
IS - 2
ER -