Psychological responses to information about human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: methods of evaluating print materials

摘要

Learning about human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a possible sourceudof negative affect in women, but the extent and nature of these emotions is unclear,udalong with whether they are associated with negative attitudes and behavioursud(particularly with respect to HPV vaccination). The goal of this thesis is to examine theudpsychological impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) information using measures ofudknowledge, behavioural intentions, mood, attitudes and implicit associations. Existingudliterature was reviewed to examine a range of methods and outcomes suitable for use.udStudy 1 examined responses to health information in adolescent-aged women using audrandomised between-participants design, and was carried out in a classroom setting.udParticipants given information about HPV and cervical cancer showed strong interest inudfuture vaccination and did not display any more anxiety (as measured by the short formudof State Trait Anxiety Index; STAI) than those participants given alternative controludinformation. Three further studies adapted and refined this method for use with olderudwomen of university-going age in one-on-one testing sessions. These studies employedudan enhanced range of outcomes, many of which were administered as repeatedudmeasures, and although showed positive evaluations of HPV material, strongudbehavioural effects were more difficult to elicit. Again few effects of anxiety wereudobserved between information conditions. Implicit evaluations of the concept ofud‘cancer’ were also examined using a computer-based Implicit Association Test, whichudshowed some evidence of changes in associations following information exposure.udCorrelates of changes in implicit associations were also examined, with someudrelationships shown with behaviour and knowledge uptake but not anxiety or attitudes.