Predictors of Iranian Women's Intention to First Papanicolaou Test Practice: An Application of Protection Motivation Theory Publisher Pubmed



Dehdari T¹ ; Hassani L¹ ; Shojaeizadeh D² ; Hajizadeh E³ ; Nedjat S⁴ ; Abedini M⁵
Source: Indian Journal of Cancer Published:2016

Abstract

Background and Aim: Given the importance of papanicolaou (Pap) test in the early detection and timely treatment of cervical cancer, present study was designed to determine predictors of a sample of Iranian women's intention to first Pap test practice based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 240 women referral to the 30 primary health care clinics were selected. They completed a developed scale based on PMT variables including intention, perceived vulnerability and severity, fear, response costs, response efficacy and self-efficacy. Path analysis was used to determine the association between predictive factors and intention. Results: The results showed that PMT had goodness of fit with a χ 2 /df = 2.37, df = 28, P= 0.001 and RMSEA = 0.076. PMT explained 42% of the variance in women's intention to get first Pap smear test. Self-efficacy (b = 0.55, P< 0.001) and response efficacy (b = 0.19, P< 0.001) were found to be the predictors of intention. Conclusion: These findings may be used to develop tailored, theory-based educational interventions associated with Pap testing among women.