Exploring Effective Contextual Factors for Regular Cervical Cancer Screening in Iranian Women: A Qualitative Study

Prediction of cervical cancer screening: application of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model

INTRODUCTION

Screening is an effective method for preventing cervical cancer. The present study aimed to determine the predictability of cervical cancer screening using the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model, as this model can help understand the factors that influence health-related behaviors.

METHOD

The present cross-sectional study examined 310 women aged 20 to 60 in Isfahan, Iran, between 2020 and 2021. To this end, comprehensive health centers and gynecology clinics of hospitals were randomly selected by lot. Women who met the study's inclusion criteria were selected via convenience sampling. An IMB skills questionnaire developed by researchers comprised the data collection tool. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, descriptive and regression tests, and AMOS 24.0 software.

FINDINGS

Approximately 18.1% of the participants had never undergone routine cervical cancer screening. The regression model results indicated that the model components accurately predicted regular cervical cancer screening (P < 0.00). Path analysis revealed that information (β = 0.05, P = 0.002), motivation (β = 0.187, P = 0.026), and behavioral skills (β = 0.95, P < 0.001) were directly associated with regular cervical cancer screening. Furthermore, behavioral skills had the greatest direct effect on regular cervical cancer screening.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that the IMB model accurately predicted cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is possible to improve cervical cancer screening in women by designing and implementing interventions based on this model's components, particularly those that improve behavioral skills.

Two experimental studies on the differential effects of low and high treatability information on the inclination to engage in cancer prevention

Two 3(control versus LTI versus HTI) × 2(self-affirmation versus no self-affirmation)-experiments were conducted. The first study presented a news message on the treatability of bowel cancer (N = 717); the second study was about skin cancer (N = 342). The dependent variables were the intention to engage in preventive behaviors and message acceptance. The results showed that when participants were exposed to LTI, only when response efficacy was low, a self-affirmation procedure increased their intention to prevent cancer (experiment 1), and increased message acceptance (experiment 2). When participants were exposed to HTI, the self-affirmation procedure did not increase the intention, and even reduced message acceptance. The findings suggest that defensive processes were active in reaction to LTI, but not in reaction to HTI. Although publishing LTI and HTI information in the media serves legitimate goals, it may have positive but also negative unintended effects on preventive behaviors in the population.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC00313 Accelerates Cervical Carcinoma Progression by miR-4677-3p/CDK6 Axis

Background

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic tumors. Evidence is accumulating that long non-coding RNAs participate in the pathogenesis of cancers, but the expression and role of lncRNA LINC00313 in cervical carcinoma is not reported.

Methods

We measured the expression levels of LINC00313 in clinical samples of cervical carcinoma and investigated the function of LINC00313 in the regulation of proliferation, metastasis, and EMT. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to explore the molecular regulation process of LINC00313.

Results

Our data showed that the levels of LINC00313 in cervical carcinoma tissues and cells were significantly up-regulated. Functionally, LINC00313 accelerated the progression, migration, and EMT of SiHa and Hela cells. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-4677-3p/CDK6 regulatory axis is the direct downstream of LINC00313. Functional gain- and loss-of-function strategies further showed that LINC00313 induced the up-regulation of CDK6 expression through competitive binding with miR-4677-3p, leading to promote the progression of cervical carcinoma.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that LINC00313 accelerated the progression of cervical cancer through the miR-4677-3p/CDK6 regulatory axis. LncRNA LINC00313 may serve as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical carcinoma.

Itinerários terapêuticos de mulheres com câncer docolo doútero na Bahia, Brasil

Objetivo: analisar os itinerários terapêuticos de mulheres com câncer do colo do útero (CCU) a partir do tratamento, na região Sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil.Materiais e métodos: estudo qualitativo descritivo e exploratório realizado em uma unidade de alta complexidade em oncologia que é referência para a região sudoeste da Bahia. Cinco mulheres em tratamento para o CCU foram entrevistadas, sendo a coleta de dados realizada a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e registros em diário de campo, no período de julho a agosto de 2017. Adotou-se a análise categorial temática.Resultados: emergiram duas categorias empíricas: aspectos simbólicos e experiências de mulheres em tratamento para o CCU e a busca por tratamentos para o CCU. As racionalidades e práticas acionadas no curso dos itinerários revelaram a externalização de signos e significados da doença a partir de elementos biomédicos e sobrenaturais, experiências de adoecimento caracterizadas por sentimentos de dor e sofrimento, superação e enfrentamento como também o acionamento de estratégias terapêuticas de caráter empírico, popular e biomédico.Conclusão: os itinerários tecidos a partir de conexões com familiares, profissionais de saúde, membros da comunidade e a com a religiosidade, denotam que não existem padrões únicos e definidos nas trajetórias em busca de cuidado e que os mesmos podem permitir uma maior aproximação dos sentidos, modos de lidar com a doença e estratégias terapêuticas valorizadas e acionadas por estas mulheres.