Table 2

Results of the quantitative studies that assessed acceptance of, and/or attitudes towards, HPV-based screening

AuthorPhenomena of interestQuestionnaire items used to assess acceptance and/or attitudesAnswers provided by the women (N/N total)
Gerend, 201732 Acceptance‘If your doctor or healthcare provider recommended it, would you agree to have this new HPV test done instead of a Pap test?’Yes: 55% (172*/313)
No: 14% (44*/313)
Undecided: 31% (97*/313)
Jayasinghe, 201636 Acceptance‘I would be willing to have an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer instead of a Pap smear.’Yes 79% (106/135)
Willingness to screen with HPV testing at extended screening intervals3 Yearly: 61% (82/135)
5 Yearly: 31% (41/134)
10 Yearly: 10% (14/134)
Ogilvie, 201334 Acceptance‘I would be willing to have an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer instead of a Pap smear’ (7-point Likert scale; >4 coded as ‘intending to screen’)84% (826/981) intended to screen
Saraiya, 201833 Acceptance‘Which of the following cervical cancer screening options would be acceptable to you if your doctor recommended it for you?’HPV test alone once every 3 years: 13% (172/1309)
Annual Pap test: 40% (520/1309)
Pap test every 3 years: 25% (326/1309)
Pap test with HPV test every 3 years: 33% (433/1309)
Pap test with HPV test every 5 years: 15% (198/1309)
None of the options: 15% (190/1309)
Silver, 201531 Understanding the screening purposeScreening test preferenceHPV Only: 8% (43/549)
Pap Only: 61% (333/549)
Either: 32% (173/549)
‘If HPV test only, how much concern about not having a Pap smear?’None: 22% (120/548)
Slight: 37% (201/548)
Moderate: 30% (165/548)
Severe: 11% (62/548)
‘Which is more concerning’Abnormal Pap: 27% (146/550)
HPV Positive: 9% (51/550)
Equally concerning: 64% (353/550)
Understanding the
personal risk
'Perceived risk of HPV'
None/Low: 90% (492/549)
Moderate/High: 10% (57/549)
Smith, 202137 Acceptance‘Having an HPV test instead of a Pap to screen for cervical cancer is acceptable to me’Strongly agree/ agree: 63% (3342/5336)
Neutral: 16%
Disagree: 11%
Don’t know: 10%
‘Receiving HPV testing starting at age 30 years is acceptable to me’Agree: 68% (3635/5336 total sample); 81% (2691/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
Disagree: 13% (682/5336 total sample); 8% (259/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
Neutral: 18% (981/5336 total sample); 11% (373/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
‘I would be willing to have an HPV test every 4–5 years instead of a Pap every 3 years’Agree: 54% (2858/5336 total sample); 74% (2472/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
Disagree: 21% (1096/5336 total sample); 11% (352/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
Neutral: 25% (1353/5336 total sample); 15% (506/3342 women who would accept HPV screening)
Understanding the implication of a positive finding‘I think people would judge me for having HPV’Agree: 33% (1775/5336)
Disagree: 27% (1419/5336)
Neutral: 31% (1666/5336)
‘Having HPV would not cause me any concern about cervical cancer’Agree: 3% (181/5336)
Disagree: 77% (4,112/5336)
Neutral: 11% (569/5336)
‘I would feel comfortable telling my partner if I had HPV’Agree: 64% (3391/536)
Disagree: 13% (709/5336)
Neutral: 14% (755/5336)
‘Being HPV positive would not affect my relationship with my partner’Agree: 23% (1249/5336)
Disagree: 38% (2003/5336)
Neutral: 30% (1584/5336)
Understanding the screening purpose‘What would concern you more?’Abnormal Pap test result: 13% (668/5336)
HPV positive test result: 13% (683/5336)
Equally concerning: 72% (3855/5336)
Thompson, 202035 AcceptanceWillingness to receive the HPV test instead of the Pap test (5-point Likert scale)Willing: 55% (447/812)
Not willing: 45% (365/812)
Understanding the screening purpose ‘What worries you more’Abnormal HPV test: 11% (90/812)
Abnormal pap test: 14% (114/812)
Equally worrying: 60% (489/812)
Neither: 15% (119/812)
HPV test benefit: Less time at doctor’s officeYes: 74% (597/812)
No: 26% (215/812)
HPV test benefit: Less frequent discomfortYes: 70% (571/812)
No: 30% (241/812)

  • *These numbers were calculated from the percentage and total number (N total * percentage).

  • HPV, Human Papillomavirus; n, number.