Distribution and interpretation of psychosocial measures
| Outcome measure | Description of measure | n | Possible range | Minimum/maximum | Mean (95% CI) |
| Anxiety (STAI-6) | The short form state anxiety inventory (STAI-6) is a six-item validated questionnaire. Score 35: population norm; >44 clinical anxiety. | 1004 | 20–80 | 20/80 | 44.39 (43.48 to 45.40) |
| General distress (GHQ-12) | The General Health Questionnaire is a 12-item validated questionnaire. Score >3: case level distress. | 995 | 0–12 | 0/12 | 2.67 (2.45 to 2.89) |
| Cervical Screening Questionnaire (CSQ) | Modified five-item version of the CSQ: distress related to cervical screening result, including worries about cancer, fertility and gynaecological health. | 1004 | 0–15 | 0/15 | 4.96 (4.84 to 5.08) |
| Psychosexual impact (PEAPS-Q) | Modified three-item version of valid and reliable short form PEAPS-Q-5: worry about infectivity and effect on sexual relationships of abnormal result. | 65 | 3–15 | 3/15 | 6.14 (5.27 to 7.01) |
| Concern | Concern about test results: how concerned do you feel about your recent cervical screening result? (7-point Likert scale: not at all to very much so) | 1002 | 1–7 | 1/3 | 2.68 (2.53 to 2.76) |
| Reassurance | Reassurance from test result: how reassured do you feel about your recent cervical screening result? (7-point Likert scale: not at all to very much so) | 1003 | 1–7 | 1/3 | 5.32 (5.22 to 5.46) |
| Perceived risk in lifetime | Chances of developing cervical cancer in lifetime: what are your chances of developing cervical cancer in your lifetime? (4-point Likert scale: no/low/medium/high chance) | 1004 | 1–4 | 1/4 | 2.22 (2.18 to 2.26) |
| Perceived risk | Perceived risk of cervical cancer relative to others: what is your lifetime chance of getting cervical cancer compared to a woman of your age and race without any known risk factor? (5-point Likert scale: much below average to much above average) | 1004 | 1–5 | 1/5 | 2.69 (2.65 to 2.75) |
| Worry | Worry about cervical cancer: how worried are you of getting cervical cancer in your lifetime? (4-point Likert scale: not at all worried to very worried) | 1004 | 1–4 | 1/4 | 1.77 (1.72 to 1.81) |
| HPV knowledge†* | 16-item validated scale assessing general knowledge of HPV. | 1004 | 0–16 | 0/16 | 6.69 (6.38 to 7.0) |
| HPV testing knowledge‡ | 5-item validated scale assessing knowledge of HPV testing (cervical screening test). | 1004 | 0–5 | 0/5 | 1.33 (1.23 to 1.43) |
*Higher scores indicate better psychological outcomes; for all other measures, higher scores indicate poorer psychological outcomes.
†Women who answered no to ‘before today had you heard of HPV?’ were assigned an HPV knowledge score of 0.
‡Women who answered no to ‘before today had you heard of HPV testing?’ were assigned an HPV testing knowledge score of 0.
HPV, human papillomavirus; PEAPS-Q, Psychosocial Effects of Abnormal Pap Smears Questionnaire short form; STAI-6, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.