Quotes from interviews to support the themes
| Code | Quote |
| Knowledge and attitudes about changes | |
| Q1 | I did see I think a couple of little pop up things about it and I know that a couple of girls in my social circle have mentioned that the new test was available and it was a 5-year screening, but I haven't seen any other information about what difference it will make. (HPV-, <35 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Q2 | I spent a couple of hours actually looking into everything I could find. Just even about HPV itself because I didn't understand any of it. It was really useful … but I had to actually go looking for it. It wasn’t something that was put out there … If it had been out there it may have been discussed and I might have known a bit more … It would've been good to have been publicly informed in some ways. (HPV+ (type unknown), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q3 | Well I know that the main change is you only have to go every 5 years and not every 2 years because they've developed a different way to look at the cells or something (HPV+ (not 16/18), <35 years old, vaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q4 | From what I understand, the technology is drastically improved which means obviously its better technology and they trust the technology better. I think the fact they're tracking the virus that causes the cancer is really good. (HPV-, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q5 | I think in all honestly my experience is it's the same … I can't say I've noticed any change to be honest. (HPV+ 16/18 and CIN1, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, trade apprenticeship) |
| Q6 | My instant reaction is horror because that's a long time without a Pap smear because you don't know what your body is doing. In there if you've got cancer somewhere in that area, it's got 5 years to spread. (HPV+ (type unknown), 66+ years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q7 | Well the fact that if it's done every 5 as opposed to 2 then obviously having to go for less testing, is less anxiety and less stress so on that basis that's good … If I have to only do it once every 5 years it's very positive in my view. I think it will encourage more people to do it because it's not something that you have to do that often. (HPV+ (not 16/18), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Q8 | What's easier now is I don't have to come back for another test and wait for a result then be told now you have to go to a specialist. The fact I knew immediately that's what the next step was really good. That was really positive. (HPV+ (type unknown), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q9 | I do have concerns as to whether the HPV is over testing, are you finding things that are not meant to be there - is it over diagnosis as well which leads to unnecessary treatments, unnecessary follow ups and referrals. That did cross my mind. (HPV+ (not 16/18), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Q10 | Because you're immunising your girls against the HPV they will be less likely to get cervical cancer, which is why they only have to be screened 5 yearly. (HPV-, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Information dissemination | |
| Q11 | Just about the difference now that they're testing for the virus that causes the cell changes rather than testing for cell changes, you can catch things earlier and prevent them. (HPV+ (16/18), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q12 | I was due to have one, I don't know what month it was, last year and she said wait till December because then they've got a new test. I didn't really worry about it - I mean I haven't had any negative (sic) results (ie, abnormal) so she just said in December they're doing it a different way so do you want to wait till December. (HPV-, 51–65 years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q13 | She explained the process and how the test works and exactly what she does and how they get the samples and how it's tested. I was quite happy with the extent of the information that she provided. It coincided with my understanding of the test and what the results would show or not. (HPV-, <35 years old, vaccinated, higher school certificate) |
| Q14 | I didn't end up getting it that day. Then … sent out a request to my old postal address, saying that I was on a high priority list to get it done. They called me up and apologised about it … The Doctor … she didn't really believe me again so she called up (Path lab) and asked them if I really needed to be there and they said yes, she's on the priority listing or urgent listing. (HPV+ 16/18, <35 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q15 | I think there needs to be an ad done about it because it's prevalent it's there every day it's something women have to have done. It's an element that goes around and I think the public need to be more informed. TV ads, radio ads I think, internet ads because younger generation take much more notice of them. (HPV+ (type unknown), 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q16 | Maybe it could be a brochure and a conversation from your GP or kind of the doctor/gynaecologist whoever you're communicating with so that they can ask questions and then you have some information to go back and read if you want to. I don't know then I suppose on the brochure if there is a phone number for people to call if they have further questions. (HPV+ not 16/18 and normal cytology, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Meaning of test results and emotional responses to the new test | |
| Q17 | Results, no. They only really call you in for results if something is wrong and they need to discuss it otherwise you don't sort of hear from them. I would've liked just an acknowledgement to say that everything is fine instead of just assuming. Even if it was only a short email or something. (HPV status unknown, 51–65 years old, unvaccinated, no school or other qualifications) |
| Q18 | Oh, I was a little bit nervous. I didn't think that I was a high candidate to have issues. Still it's the first time I've done the test I could’ve had a dormant virus or something for a few years and not known about it. It was just generally, because I've never done it, I’m uncertain it might have been an underlying problem I had never known about but it wasn’t so that was good. (HPV-, <35 years old, vaccinated, higher school certificate) |
| Q19 | It didn't mean that I would get cancer but I would have a more increased risk and now I would have to have yearly Pap smears and they will be tested the old way to detect changes in my cells because we know I've already got the HPV virus. (HPV+ 16/18 and normal cytology, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q20 | I'm glad nothing is wrong but it's a little daunting knowing I'm in that increased risk group … Like I said to my husband it's more when I have my Pap smear every year now rather than not thinking about it because it's been normal for so long, now that I've got the virus I think I will be a little bit more anxious until I get the result now. (HPV+ 16/18 and negative cytology, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q21 | Well I would believe that it would mean I wouldn't need to go back for 5 years however given that I've had abnormal test results in the past I think I will probably still get one done 2 years after that test just to make sure and if that's clear then I would be reassured I could then go to 5 yearly screening … I think I will take myself to another test. (HPV-, <35 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Q22 | Probably explaining more about it, how you can get it. I think already having the pamphlet what it can turn into, cervical cancer and things like that. While you're having the Pap smear I think so too and also if you have to go to get a procedure like a biopsy or whatever just to explain it again. (HPV+ 16/18 and CIN1, 36–50 years old, unvaccinated, trade apprenticeship) |
| Q23 | Yeah, I will be making it (appointment) for when the 12 months is up for sure. Now I have a better understanding I'm okay with it and going back in 12 months it's fine. Hopefully it will be gone and if it's not go back in another 12 months or whatever the threshold is. My initial reaction was I have to wait 12 months, I'm going to have to worry about this for 12 months but now I'm okay about it. (HPV+ (not 16/18), <35 years old, vaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
| Q24 | Well I would believe that it would mean I wouldn't need to go back for 5 years however given that I've had abnormal test results in the past I think I will probably still get one done 2 years after that test just to make sure and if that's clear then I would be reassured I could then go to 5 yearly screening. (HPV-,<35 years old, unvaccinated, university degree) |
| Q25 | I hadn’t had sex for years … the diagnosis I got from the Pap smear (is) normally (for) people (who) are sexually active. I thought it was some kind of an STI and then when I thought about it I thought I hadn’t been with anyone for years, how did I get this unless it's been in the body for years and shown up now. (HPV+ (type unknown), 66+ years old, unvaccinated, school certificate) |
| Q26 | That's how it was explained and then when he was going through the flow charts and stuff about when you get this and then we have to do this next treatment. (HPV+ (not 16/18) and normal cytology, 36–50 years old, university degree) |
| Q27 | She just pretty much said how most people do have the virus; she wasn't particularly good at explaining it. It was just lucky that I've already been to so many doctors who are better at explaining it so I've got a general understanding. (HPV+ 16/18, <35 years old, unvaccinated, diploma or certificate) |
GP, general practitioner; HPV, human papillomavirus; STI, sexually transmitted infection.