Effect of Web-Based Education on Attitudes and Beliefs About HPV Testing

Cervical cancer is a highly preventable public health issue that significantly impacts women's quality of life. Although effective screening programs such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing and Pap-smears are widely available, women's participation in these early detection services often remains limited. The primary barriers to screening attendance include insufficient education, lack of information, negative beliefs, psychosocial or cultural factors, and misconceptions regarding gynecological examinations. To improve screening uptake, health interventions must focus not only on increasing knowledge but also on promoting correct beliefs and positive attitudes toward testing.

Web-based health education serves as an effective method to overcome barriers such as cost, transportation difficulties, and geographical limitations, allowing wider access to healthcare guidance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a specialized web-based educational intervention on women's attitudes and beliefs regarding the HPV test. The research is designed as a randomized controlled trial with a pre-test and post-test design. Participants will be assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive structured health education through a dedicated web platform, while the control group will receive routine standard follow-up. Data will be gathered using a specific attitude and belief scale before and after the application to measure the intervention's impact.

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Key information

Conditions

Cervical Cancer Adherence Interventions Behavior Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Genital Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Genital Neoplasms, Female HPV Health Behavior Health Education Medication Adherence Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Treatment Adherence and Compliance Urogenital Diseases Urogenital Neoplasms Uterine Cervical Diseases Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Uterine Diseases Uterine Neoplasms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Having no prior clinical diagnosis of cervical cancer
Being between 18 and 60 years of age
Having active access to the internet
Being literate at a level sufficient to read and understand the questionnaire forms
Being capable of effectively navigating and using a web browser
Being registered as a patient at Sakarya Akyazı No. 3 Family Health Center
Volunteering to participate in the study and providing informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Withdrawing from the study voluntarily at any stage
Failing to watch the mandatory educational videos on the platform
Submitting incomplete or incorrect responses to the data collection tools
Lacking active internet access or proper web browser usage skills

Criteria for Study Discontinuation / Drop-out:

Participant's request to withdraw from the study
Failure to respond to or complete the data collection tools
Not using or logging into the web application for more than 2 consecutive weeks during the study period

Treatment and study plan

Web-Based Health Education

Behavioral

Participants in the intervention group will receive health education through a specially designed web-based platform containing 11 presentations in total (8 PowerPoint presentations, 1 animation video explaining how the HPV test is performed, and 1 researcher-led instructional video demonstrating self-vulvar examination on a model). Participants will also be provided with educational brochures and magnets. For participants who do not view the presentations, weekly reminder text messages will be sent to encourage platform login and module completion.

Primary outcomes

Attitudes and Beliefs About HPV Testing Scale (ABHTS) - Personal Barriers Subscale

Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention

This subscale consists of 7 items (items 1-7) assessing personal barriers, stigma, and shame related to HPV testing. Scores range from 7 to 49. A higher score indicates a higher level of perceived personal barriers, meaning a less favorable attitude toward HPV testing.
Attitudes and Beliefs About HPV Testing Scale (ABHTS) - Social Norms Subscale

Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention

This subscale consists of 4 items (items 8-11) assessing the influence of friends, partners, family, and social media on HPV testing. Scores range from 4 to 28. A higher score indicates higher negative social pressure/barriers, meaning a lower level of favorable attitudes and beliefs
Attitudes and Beliefs About HPV Testing Scale (ABHTS) - Trust Subscale

Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention

This subscale consists of 6 items (items 12-17) assessing trust in the healthcare system, accuracy of HPV testing, and medical procedures. Scores range from 6 to 42. A higher score indicates higher levels of perceived benefit, confidence, and trust toward HPV testing.
Attitudes and Beliefs About HPV Testing Scale (ABHTS) - Concerns Subscale

Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention

This subscale consists of 3 items (items 18-20) assessing concerns and worries related to the process and outcomes of HPV testing. Scores range from 3 to 21. A higher score indicates higher levels of concerns/negative attitudes toward HPV testing.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

MERVE İÇÖZ, Phd Student, Msc Midwife

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905072094020

ZEKİYE TURAN, Phd, Associate Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905055376788

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sakarya University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

THE EFFECT OF WEB-BASED EDUCATION GIVEN TO WOMEN ON THEIR ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ABOUT HPV TESTING

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jun 2, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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