We study the degree of anxiety associated to the result of screening techniques of cervical cancer depending on a positive or negative outcome.
We made a descriptive study about the degree of anxiety produced by the application of screening techniques of cervical cancer in women between 19 and 72 years from population of Hospital San Jorge area (Huesca). The anxiety is evaluated answering to a section from Goldberg Depression and Anxiety Scale before the medical test and after, depending on the outcome. (Anxiety ≥ 4 points).
The survey was made by 210 women, with a mean age of 40.5 ± 11.2 years. 92.4 % of screening results were negative and 7.6% were positive. 85.7% of women had less than 4 points in Anxiety Scale before the screening and after receiving the result, 90.4% had less than 4 points in the same scale. 18% of women with a positive result in the screening test have answered affirmatively to anxiety questions; meanwhile the percentage of these answers in women with negative outcome in the screening is 8.7%. There are significant differences regarding to irritability, difficulty to get relaxed and concern on their health.
The degree of anxiety produced by screening techniques is low. Without getting to achieve Anxiety standard, if we analyse one by one the questions, patients with a positive result of screening show a higher level of stress.