Table 1: Summary of key questionnaire domainsa.

 

Screening Concept

Scale Items

·         Attitudes towards HPV testing and intention to screen with HPV testing instead of cytology (primary endpoint)

 

·         Attitudes towards delaying cervical screening until 25 years of age

 

·         Attitudes towards HPV testing from 25 years of age at widened screening intervals

·         “I would be willing to perform an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer at/after the age of 25 and every 5 years instead of a Pap smear every two years after onset of sexual activity in my patients (to commence around 2017) as recommended by the National Cervical Screening Program Renewal)” (from 1 strongly disagree to 7 strongly agree)b

 

·         “I am uncomfortable with delaying the age of cervical screening until 25 years of age” b(from 1 strongly disagree to 7 strongly agree)b

 

·         “Having an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer starting at/after the age of 25 and every five years instead of a Pap smear every two years after onset of sexual activity would: be accurate/be safe/ be protective/be acceptable/be resource efficient.” b(from 1 strongly disagree to 7 strongly agree)b

·         Facilitating factors for delaying screening to 25 years 

·         “Which of the following factors are more reassuring for you, or that you consider are acceptable reasons for delaying screening to 25 years in young women: I feel more reassured when a woman has had the HPV vaccine prior to sexual activity/I feel more reassured when a woman has had the HPV vaccine even if it was after onset of sexual activity/I feel more reassured when a woman has only been in same sex relationships/In general terms cervical changes in young women are largely low-grade and have a high rate of regression/Screening exposes young women to unnecessary obstetric risks/Cervical cancer in women under 25 years is very rare irrespective of HPV vaccination/Screening does not appear to reduce the incidence rates of cervical cancer in young women < 25 years.” (from 1 strongly disagree to 7 strongly agree)b

·         Factors that may be barriers to delayed screening to 25 years

·         “Could you please indicate if the following are situations where you would continue screening from 18 years in the following situations (even though the new guidelines as of 2017 suggest cervical screening from 25 years): When a woman has already had a personal history of high-grade cervical changes prior to 25 years /when a woman has already had a personal history of high-grade cervical changes prior to 25 years/When a sexually active woman has a strong family history of cervical cancer/When a woman has early stage of fist sexual intercourse (16 years)/When a woman gives a past history of genital-contact childhood sexual abuse (< 16 years)/When a woman gives a past history of genital-contact unwanted adolescent sexual activity (16 to 17 years)/When a sexually active woman has not had the HPV vaccine/When a sexually active woman has HIV or is immunosuppressed.” (from 1 strongly disagree to 7 strongly agree)b

 

aTable is not the complete survey.

bResults were dichotomized ≤ 4 and > 4 from a 7 point Likert scale.