Sources of the Uncertainty Experienced by Women With HPV

• Published in: Qualitative health research Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 534 - 545
• Main Authors: Kosenko, Kami A., Hurley, Ryan J., Harvey, Jacquelyn A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2012; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Diagnosis; Disease Progression; Female; Health behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health technology assessment; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomaviruses; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Middle Aged; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Infections - psychology; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Qualitative research; Reproduction; Sexuality; Stress; Stress, Psychological; Uncertainty; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - etiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - psychology; Women; Women's Health; Womens health; Young Adult; United States > US; sexuality / sexual health; women’s health; coping and adaptation; uncertainty; illness and disease; experiences
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732311424404

Women with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) experience considerable stress and uncertainty as a result of the diagnosis; however, little is known about the sources of uncertainty in HPV. Given that uncertainty creates stress, which might be linked to the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, research on these sources of uncertainty is warranted. To this end, we completed semistructured interviews with 25 women living with HPV, and identified seven sources of uncertainty: The meaning of the diagnosis, the potential for disease progression, finances, the source of the infection, disclosure, sex and reproduction, and the HPV vaccine. In the discussion we articulate the relevance and importance of study findings to research, theory, and practice.