Chewing Gum During a Pap Smear

Firat University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Woman Aged 18 to 65; Woman of Reproductive Age

Treatments: Other: shewing gum

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07124182

fırat unversity (Other Identifier)

fıratuniverstyyy

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study, which was conducted to determine the effects of chewing gum on anxiety and pain during Pap smear, found that chewing gum reduced pain but had no effect on anxiety.

Full description

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women aged 35-44. Cervical cancer screening methods include the Papanicolaou test (PAP) via cytopathology, and the Pap smear is widely used for early detection of cervical cancer. A Pap smear involves a speculum examination, direct visualization of the cervix, and collection of a sample from the cervix using a brush. ACOG recommends screening for women aged 30-65 with cervical cytology alone every 3 years, with high-risk HPV testing alone every 5 years, or with cytology and high-risk HPV testing (concurrent testing) every 5 years (ACOG).

Women often experience anxiety and pain during pelvic procedures. Anxiety is a distressing emotional state. Many women with increased anxiety are at risk of experiencing pain. An adrenergic response is activated between the physiological effects of anxiety and the perception of pain. It has been reported that the pap smear procedure, which is a pelvic procedure, is relatively short, and cognitive and behavioral interventions that distract the patient can be effective in reducing pain and anxiety. In addition, strategies for alleviating pain and anxiety include pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Non-pharmacological methods are reported to be inexpensive and easy to implement, and have relatively few side effects. Various interventions, such as booklets, brochures, informative videos, education, and music, have been tested in the literature to reduce anxiety and pain levels. Neuropsychology confirms that chewing gum increases sustained attention. Chewing gum has a sustained effect on alertness and attention. Chewing gum can lower cortisol levels, reduce distractions, and increase cognitive focus. This can reduce overall stress and anxiety. Chewing gum is reported to be a cheap, well-tolerated, safe, and effective way to alleviate anxiety and stress . There are no direct studies in the literature on the use of gum during Pap smears. This study aimed to examine the effect of chewing gum during Pap smears.

Enrollment: 103 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women who are literate, can speak and understand Turkish, are not pregnant, are not in menopause, and have experienced sexuality

Exclusion criteria

• women diagnosed with cervical cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

103 participants in 2 patient groups

experimental group (chewing gum)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the experimental group were given gum after the pretest and asked to chew it. They were asked to chew it until they stepped off the gynecological examination table. The women chewed gum for an average of 10 minutes. The gum they were given was unflavored and sugar-free.

Treatment:

Other: shewing gum

control group (no intervention)

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group received no intervention.