[Psychological impact of the announcement of an abnormal cervical smear: How to improve patient experience and information? COLANX: a multicenter study in Seine-Maritime]

Introduction: When an anomaly in the screening by cervical smear or by the HPV-HR test is detected, the women are called for a colposcopy. Waiting for colposcopy is often an anxiety-provoking situation for women, probably linked to a widespread ignorance of the value of screening and the pathophysiology of HPV infection.

Methods: The COLANX was a multicentric study, in Seine-Maritime, conducted with 8 colposcopist practitioners. Self-questionnaires were distributed to volunteer women, summoned for a first abnormal smear result, at the exit of colposcopy and filled out immediately on site. This questionnaire evaluated: the psychological impact of the announcement of the abnormal cervico-uterine smear, its impact on the sexual quality of life, the epidemiological characteristics of the population studied, the modalities of the announcement made of the abnormal result, the satisfaction of the women and their desire for additional information. 131 questionnaires were included, from June 1, 2020 to January 18, 2021.

Results: 61.5% of responding women presented proven psychological distress, as evidenced by a GHQ-12 score ≥ 2. The state of psychological distress was significantly different depending on the time left by the practitioner between the announcement of the abnormal cytology result and the colposcopy appointment. The GHQ-12 score was significantly different according to the initial classification of the cervico-uterine smear, high in case of suspicion of high-grade lesions in particular. 36.3% of patients had a significant deterioration in their sexual quality of life, demonstrated by an ASEX score ≥ 18. The women were statistically more satisfied when the announcement of their abnormal screening result had been made by telephone or during a consultation, rather than by mail, but no significant difference was found on the presence or absence of distress psychological according to this mode of announcement. 52.3% of the women in this study expressed a request for additional information support, preferably written support (for 89.4% of these women), to be delivered when the abnormal screening was announced (for 76, 5% of these women).

Discussion: The main results of the COLANX study are consistent with those of the literature, in particular concerning the negative psychological impact in the announcement of an abnormal smear result.

Conclusion: The new methods of organized screening will increase the use of colposcopy for many women. There is a significant impact on their psyche and their intimate life. The issuance of additional information during this announcement would probably reduce this anxiety.