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Exploring anal self-examination as a screening tool for women at risk for anal cancer: awareness, interest, and barriers to behavioral uptake

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Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Anal cancer is the second most common human-papillomavirus-related cancer in women, with women also at an elevated risk of incidence relative to men. Anal self-examination (ASE) is an efficient way for women to screen between provider visits for potential anal masses. While studied in male populations, no research has explored women’s awareness of the self-test.

Methods

In response, 345 women recruited from online advertisements and listservs were surveyed to assess their experiences using health care, history of Pap smears, knowledge of anal cancer, awareness and attitudes surrounding ASEs, and potential educational modalities to promote ASE enactment.

Results

Results indicated the sample failed two key anal cancer knowledge tests (receiving a 68%/100% for risk factors and 61%/100% for signs/symptoms), and only 2.3% of participants had ever heard of ASEs before the survey. Most thought ASEs would be somewhat helpful as a screening tool, but little interest was shown towards future performance. Analyses revealed this disinterest was due to lack of knowledge, perceived discomfort with performing ASEs, and perceived irrelevance of ASEs.

Conclusions

Future interventions should push for a stronger role of providers (e.g., gynecologists) in anal health, education, and screening. Additionally, campaigns should be crafted to promote the ASE as an easy, at-home screening tool that could trigger an early warning for anal disease.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Division of Health Behavior and Community Health at the School of Health Sciences & Practice, New York Medical College, for its funding. We would also like to thank Atticus Ranck and Drs. Barbara Greenberg, Penny Liberatos, Ben Watson, and Jason Ong for their guidance and advice. Special recognition to Dr. Phillip Moskowitz for his medical expertise on this work and for retiring after 43 years of saving lives as a gastroenterologist.

Funding

This study was funded by the Department of Public Health at the School of Health Sciences & Practice, New York Medical College.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 633 N. St. Clair St., Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    David A. Moskowitz & Dennis H. Li

  2. Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    David A. Moskowitz & Dennis H. Li

  3. Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA

    Musarrat Rahman

Authors
  1. David A. Moskowitz
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  2. Musarrat Rahman
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  3. Dennis H. Li
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Correspondence to David A. Moskowitz.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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A waiver of informed consent was granted by the institutional review board at the New York Medical College (L# 011915).

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Moskowitz, D.A., Rahman, M. & Li, D.H. Exploring anal self-examination as a screening tool for women at risk for anal cancer: awareness, interest, and barriers to behavioral uptake. Cancer Causes Control 30, 559–568 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-019-01175-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-019-01175-1

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