INCREASING WOMENS KNOWLEDGE AND SATISFACTION WITH CERVICAL-CANCER SCREENING

In a randomized clinical trial, the efficacy of three interventions, d esigned to increase patient knowledge of cancer screening and satisfac tion with preventive health care, were evaluated: verbal information; graphically supported information; information provided using video co lposcopy; no standardized information (control condition). A sample of 147 healthy women were randomly assigned to the intervention group (I G) or the control group (CG). Pre- and post-test measures were obtaine d using a semistructured interview, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Patient Satisfaction Tool. At pre-test, women had a low level of knowledge which increased significantly at post-test. The knowledge scores were slightly higher in women who received information support ed by graphic or video colposcopy than in women who received standardi zed information without teaching aids. Compared to the CG, women in th e IGs scored significantly higher on questions related to cervical can cer prevention. The level of satisfaction was significantly higher in women receiving video-supported information and graphic-supported info rmation compared to women receiving information without teaching aids. The results indicated that visual teaching aids were effective: video colposcopy in increasing patient satisfaction with preventive health care; and graphic representation in improving knowledge regarding canc er screening. The combination of both should routinely accompany cervi cal cancer screening.