Identifying Motivators, Facilitators, and Barriers to Engagement and Retention in Anal Cancer Screening Among Men and Women with HIV in One Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic

作者：Maria Geba, Divya Kalluri, Emma McKim Mitchell, Tabor Flickinger, Benjamin T. Cardenas, Rebecca Dillingham, Tania A. Thomas · 发表于：AIDS Patient Care and STDs · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1089/apc.2024.0171 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Cervical Cancer and HPV Research、Colorectal and Anal Carcinomas、Viral-associated cancers and disorders

Anal squamous cell carcinoma disproportionally affects people with HIV (PWH); however, engagement in anal cancer screening is low in many settings. This study was conducted to assess knowledge and perceptions of anal cancer screening to identify factors in the engagement and retention in prevention services among PWH. Semistructured interviews were conducted among adult PWH eligible for anal cancer screening in our Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinic. Descriptive statistics were tabulated; thematic analyses were performed to identify emerging motivators, facilitators, and barriers. Among 26 PWH, 9 had not been screened, 8 had undergone Papanicolaou (Pap) testing alone, and 9 had undergone anoscopy. The median age of the cohort was 55.2 years; 54% identified as men who have sex with men, and 54% identified as Black. In the unscreened cohort, participants were motivated by investing in their health and positive attitudes toward cancer prevention however were deterred by a lack of referral and low awareness about screening. Among those who had Pap testing, trust in healthcare providers and abnormal testing results were motivators to engagement, whereas lack of perceived risk of anal cancer and worry about pain of an anoscopy were prominent barriers. Among those who had anoscopy, perceived risk, positive experience with the procedure, and use of anxiolytics prior to anoscopy were motivators, whereas anxiety around a new cancer diagnosis and negative experience with anoscopy were b...