Br J Health Psychol. 2025 Sep;30(3):e70007. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.70007.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of HPV often brings about emotional distress and reduced quality of life, highlighting the need for effective psychological interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of awareness-raising based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the quality of life of women living with HPV.
DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial using a pretest/post-test design with intervention and control groups.
METHODS: A total of 160 women with HPV were selected using convenience sampling and divided into the intervention and control groups through block randomization. The intervention group received six 90-minute ACT-based awareness-raising therapy sessions, and a post-test was administered 2 weeks after the last session in both groups. Data were collected by using demographic characteristics and the women affected by HPV quality of life (EQUALI- HPV) questionnaire.
RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in certain background variables and the quality-of-life score before the intervention. These variables included age (p = .040), condom use during sexual intercourse (p = .001), HPV genotype (p = .021), presence of genital warts at baseline (p = .015), normal Pap smear result (p = .003), and ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) (p = .030). The results also indicated that ACT-based awareness-raising had a positive effect on the overall quality-of-life score and its dimensions in women with HPV (p < .001).
CONCLUSION: ACT-based awareness-raising may have the potential to enhance the quality of life of women living with HPV. Therefore, it is recommended that health, therapeutic, and behavioural centres use this method to support women with HPV.
PMID:40660791 | DOI:10.1111/bjhp.70007
