The Effect of Supportive Counseling on Anxiety in Women Undergoing Colposcopy

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Given the importance of colposcopy in diagnosis of cervical cancer and regarding need of colposcopy candidate women to anxiety management, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of supportive counseling on anxiety in women undergoing colposcopy. Method: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 72 women undergoing colposcopy in Ardabil, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group received supportive counseling during three sessions ‎every three days. The control group only received a pamphlet containing colposcopy information. The data were collected using state anxiety inventory-form Y1, perceived stress scale and visual analogue scale. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, and ANCOVA tests were used. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic and obstetrics characteristics of the participants (P> 0.05). After counseling, the mean score of anxiety in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group [AMD: -7.02, 95% CI: -10.58 to -3.46, p <0.001]. After counseling, the mean score of stress in the intervention group was 34.33 (5.31) and 33.4 (8.52) in the control group [AMD: 0.93, 95% CI: -1.40 to 3.27, p =0.428]. The mean (SD) score of pain during colposcopy was 4 (3.06) in the intervention and 4.30 (2.47) in the control groups (P = 0.386). Conclusion: Supportive counseling reduced the anxiety, but had no effect on the pain during colposcopy, and also could not reduce the stress. Using other pain reduction and stress management strategies in women undergoing colposcopy is suggested.