Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cervical cancer prevention education (CCPE) among Korean middle-school girls in terms of whether it provided them with a positive perception of the Papanicolaou test (Pap test) and encouraged them to undergo Pap testing in adulthood. Methods A mixed-method design was used to only one group of 15 people, which combined a one-group pretest-posttest design with a qualitative study and a focus group interview (FGI). The CCPE was provided to 15 girls, after which they participated in the FGI. The changes between pretest and posttest were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The findings of the FGI were analyzed using content analysis. Results After being provided CCPE, the girls showed a significant increase in their awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention ( Z = –3.10, p = 0.002), but there were no significant changes in the perceived importance of their body, their emotional response to the Pap test, their confidence in cervical cancer prevention, or their intention to undergo Pap testing. In the FGI, the girls expressed negative emotions about the Pap test and were aware of the necessity of CCPE. Conclusion This is the first study to develop CCPE focused on the Pap test targeting Korean middle-school girls. We found that the CCPE was partially effective, in terms of increasing their awareness of the importance of cervical cancer prevention.

To determine the degree to which nurses are aware of cervical cancer and to describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with cervical cancer. To promote quality of nursing care of cervical cancer, we need to explore their perceptions and nursing experience in doing cervical-cancer care. This study was a qualitative descriptive design. Interviews were conducted with 14 registered nurses. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed. Content analysis was performed. Fourteen nurses who had been working at wards and cancer education centers were recruited in this study. Nine key themes emerged from three categories such as nurses’ awareness of cervical cancer, awareness of cervical cancer patient and caring experience. Nurses expressed fear of cervical cancer and helplessness in the face of a life-threatening prognosis. Nurses stated that they might have prejudice about cervical cancer, since it is caused by a sexually transmitted disease. They also recalled that patients with cervical cancer were more sensitive and demanding. Our findings provide a comprehensive and in-depth perspective in understanding the experience of caring for cervical cancer patients. Clinical nurses showed complex emotional reactions to cervical cancer, and expressed prejudice against the sex life of cervical-cancer patients. More education is required to ensure that clinical nurses can provide a nurse-led intervention with patients by managing nurses’ fear, prejudice, and the care burden.