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BACKGROUND: A colposcopy examination is the main management option for women with an abnormal cervical screening test result. Although some women experience adverse psychological effects after colposcopy, those at greatest risk are unknown. We investigated predictors of worries about cervical cancer, sex, future fertility and general health during 12 to 30 months after colposcopy.METHODS: We invited 1,515 women, aged 20 to 59 years with low-grade cervical cytology who attended colposcopy to complete questionnaires at recruitment (∼8 weeks after cytology result) and after 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of follow up. Outcomes were worries about having cervical cancer, having sex, future fertility, and general health at any time during follow-up. Factors significantly associated with each outcome were identified using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: At one or more time points during follow-up, 40% of women reported worries about having cervical cancer, 26% about having sex, 24% about future fertility, and 60% about general health. For all outcomes except sex, worries reported at recruitment were associated with significantly increased risk of worries during follow-up. Significant anxiety at recruitment was associated with all worries during follow-up. Women diagnosed with CIN2+ had significantly higher risks of worries about cervical cancer and future fertility. Management received was associated significantly with worries about cervical cancer and having sex. Younger women significantly more often reported worries about future fertility, whereas women who had children had reduced risk of future fertility worries but increased risk of cervical cancer worries.CONCLUSION: Clinical, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors predicted risk of reporting worries after colposcopy.

Objective To describe the impact of a Tennessee Department of Health regulation amendment requiring that all nursing home residents 65 years of age or older demonstrate documentation of pneumococcal vaccination, or documented medical contraindication, or patient refusal. Design Cross-sectional descriptive study of nursing homes using a mailed self-administered survey instrument. Results Of 354 Tennessee nursing homes, 304 homes were targeted for the survey, after excluding hospital-based rehabilitation and skilled care facilities, and facilities with fewer than 50 beds. Pneumococcal immunization rates improved from 32% to 42% from 1998 to 1999, coincident with the new policy. Homes reporting high immunization rates (≥75%) increased from 21% to 28%. These facilities were more likely to be larger (>100 beds) and urban; to have a computerized or chart-based vaccine record; to have a standing order policy; and high influenza immunization rates. Overall, only 23% of homes reported that the policy was helpful in increasing immunization rates, and only 38% of facilities reported an increase in rates of at least 5%. However, 58% of facilities that found the policy useful improved pneumococcal vaccination rates at least 5% compared with 32% that did not find it useful. No other factors were strongly associated with improved vaccine rates. Conclusion Pneumococcal immunization rates of at least 75% were associated with facility size, location, and record-keeping practices. Pneumococcal vaccination rates improved only modestly between 1998 and 1999, coincident with the health department amendment. Those who found the policy useful had the greatest improvement in rates.