Effectiveness of nursing educational interventions to improve adherence to cervical cancer screening and HPV testing in women of reproductive age
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i2.933Keywords:
cervical cancer; screening; HPV testing; nursing education; adherence; systematic review.Abstract
Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem, particularly in settings where access barriers, misinformation, and low adherence to preventive screening persist. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the effectiveness of nursing educational interventions in improving adherence to cervical cancer screening and HPV testing among women of reproductive age. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar, including studies published between 2019 and 2026. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 scientific articles were selected for qualitative synthesis. The findings showed that educational interventions led or supported by nursing professionals increased knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV, and screening methods. They also improved risk perception, reduced perceived barriers, and increased women’s intention to undergo preventive testing. The most effective strategies were those that combined health education with individualized counseling, reminders, telephone follow-up, digital messages, home visits, and community-based support. It is concluded that nursing educational interventions are effective in improving adherence to cervical cancer screening and HPV testing, especially when they are sustained, culturally adapted, and integrated with accessible primary health care services.
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