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Trends in, and predictors of, anxiety and specific worries following colposcopy: a 12‐month longitudinal study
Author(s) -
O'Connor Mairead,
O'Leary Eamonn,
Waller Jo,
Gallagher Pamela,
D'arcy Tom,
Flannelly Grainne,
Martin Cara M.,
McRae Judith,
Prendiville Walter,
Ruttle Carmel,
White Christine,
Pilkington Loretto,
O'Leary John J.,
Sharp Linda
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3980
Subject(s) - colposcopy , anxiety , longitudinal study , clinical psychology , psychology , longitudinal data , developmental psychology , medicine , demography , psychiatry , cervical cancer , sociology , cancer , pathology
Objective Little is known about which women are at greatest risk of adverse psychological after‐effects following colposcopy. This study examined time trends in, and identified predictors of, anxiety and specific worries over 12 months. Methods Women attending two hospital‐based colposcopy clinics for abnormal cervical cytology were invited to complete psychosocial questionnaires at 4, 8 and 12 months following colposcopy. General anxiety and screening‐specific worries (about cervical cancer, having sex and future fertility) were measured. Generalised estimating equations were used to assess associations between socio‐demographic, lifestyle and clinical variables and risk of psychological outcomes. Results Of 584 women initially recruited, 429, 343 and 303 completed questionnaires at 4, 8 and 12 months, respectively. Screening‐specific worries declined significantly over time but were still relatively high at 12 months: 23%, 39% and 18% for worries about cervical cancer, fertility and having sex, respectively. Anxiety remained stable (20%) over time. Risks of cervical cancer worry and anxiety were both almost double in women without private health insurance (cervical cancer worry: OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.25–2.61; anxiety: OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.20–2.84). Younger women (<40 years) had higher risk of fertility worries. Non‐Irish women had higher risk of anxiety (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.13–4.01). Conclusions Screening‐specific worries declined over time but anxiety remained stable. Notable proportions of women still reported adverse outcomes 12 months following colposcopy, with predictors varying between outcomes. Women in socio‐demographically vulnerable groups were at greatest risk of adverse psychological outcomes. This information could inform development of interventions to alleviate psychological distress post‐colposcopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.