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Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Misconceptions Threaten the Validity of Self‐Reported Testing History
Author(s) -
Royer Heather R.,
Falk Elizabeth C.,
Heidrich Susan M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12013
Subject(s) - gonorrhea , medicine , sexually transmitted disease , public health , chlamydia , family medicine , test (biology) , feeling , quarter (canadian coin) , gerontology , psychology , nursing , social psychology , syphilis , paleontology , history , archaeology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunology , biology
Objective Sexually transmitted disease ( STD ) testing is fundamental to STD prevention and control. We sought to comprehensively examine young women's beliefs about the STD testing process. Design and Sample Descriptive, cross‐sectional, survey investigation. Women aged 18–24 ( n = 302) drawn from four women's health clinics and one university classroom. Measures Participants completed the Ro TEST , which measures five domains of women's STD testing beliefs and a demographic survey. Results Many women believed they would be screened for all STD s when they receive STD testing (40%) and that visual inspection by a provider was a valid method of STD screening for gonorrhea (35%), chlamydia (32%) and HSV (77%). More than a quarter believed that a Pap test screens for gonorrhea (23%) and chlamydia (26%). Twenty‐one percent reported that discussing STD testing with a provider is difficult and most reported feeling more comfortable seeking STD testing from an STD specialist rather than a family doctor (79%). Conclusions Young women have numerous misconceptions about the STD testing process that may interfere with the validity of their self‐reported STD testing history and subsequently undermine public health efforts to improve STD prevention and control. Innovative approaches to educating women about the testing process are needed.