Background: Chinese women rarely undergo regular cervical screening. Women’s decisions about cervical screening may be influenced by their perception of the risk of cervical cancer. Therefore, understanding how women perceive the risk of cervical cancer, how personal risk factors are interpreted, and the influence of cultural issues on cervical screening behavior is important.
Objective: The aim of this study is to understand cervical cancer risk perception and the role of personal risk factors as they influence screening behavior among Chinese women.
Method: An exploratory qualitative research design was used. We conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews of 27 women in Changsha, a medium-size city in Hunan province, China.
Results: Participants identified that cervical cancer had serious consequences, but they distanced themselves psychologically from the disease because they felt that “cervical cancer is a shameful and deadly disease.” Although women identified some of the risk factors for the disease, they had little specific knowledge of human papillomavirus infection, its association with cervical cancer, and the importance of cervical screening.
Conclusion: This study contributes new knowledge to the understanding of cervical screening behavior within a specific social and cultural context. Better efforts should be made to educate Chinese women on the risk of cervical cancer and emphasize that effective cancer treatments are available and that there is a good chance of survival.
Implications for Practice: Nurses working with Chinese women should ensure that the information they provide is culturally sensitive, particularly by acknowledging the normative beliefs of this population group.
Author Affiliations: Department of Medicine, Xiangya Hospital (Drs Gu and Tao), and Xiang-Ya School of Nursing (Dr Gu), Central South University, Changsha, P.R. China; School of Nursing, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut (Dr Chen); The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P.R. China (Ms Zhang); The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Drs Chow and Chan); and Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, P.R. China (Dr Wu).
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
This research was funded by a Chia Family Health Fellowship Award (primary investigator: Can Gu), contract grant number 2012CF01, and a China Medical Board Nursing Faculty Research Grant (primary investigator: Can Gu), contract grant number 13-168-201411.
Correspondence: Can Gu, RN, MPhil, PhD, Department of Medicine of Xiangya Hospital, and Xiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha 410013, P.R. China (gucan_cs@csu.edu.cn).
Accepted for publication April 13, 2016.
