Genital human papillomavirus infection. A growing health risk

Advice from affected persons about living with human papillomavirus infection

PURPOSE

To describe the "advice or information" people who have had HPV for one year would give to the newly diagnosed.

DESIGN

Descriptive. POPULATION, SAMPLE: The population was persons with HPV. A convenience sample of 61 women and 27 men, mean age 23.8 years, was recruited from 4 clinics in one midwestern U.S.A. city between 1990 and 1993.

METHODS

Participants answered an open-ended question about the advice and information they would give to newly diagnosed persons. Content analysis was done.

FINDINGS

Six major areas of advice were provided including keeping a balanced perspective, getting treatment, sexual behavior, knowledge, self-care, and other. A high percent of advice from women was to keep a balanced perspective on life. A high percent of the advice from men focused on sexual behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Advice covered a variety of topics touching on many aspects of daily life, not simply disease control and sexual behavior.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Practitioners should carefully explore their clients' reactions to the diagnosis of HPV and address the sensitive emotional elements entailed.