Factors affecting patient compliance among women with abnormal Pap smears

The relationship among health beliefs, health locus of control and diagnosis with Human papillomavirus and compliance with medical recommendations for an abnormal Pap test was explored through use of a survey in a sample 272 women. A total of 29 women (11%) indicated they failed to comply with the medical recommendation. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess relative risk for noncompliance. Two items from the health belief scale were statistically significant. Women who agree with the statement, "The uncertainty about my Pap test makes me nervous," were four times as likely to comply with the medical recommendations as compared to women who disagreed with the statement. Women who agreed with the statement, "I have not been able to cope with my abnormal pap test," were three times as likely to not comply with the recommendations as compared to women who disagreed. There were no statistically significant relationships between compliance and locus of control, Human Papillomavirus diagnosis, or demographic variables.