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Measuring cervical cancer risk: development and validation of the CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index

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Abstract

Objectives

To develop and validate a risky sexual behavior index specific to cervical cancer research.

Methods

Sexual behavior data on 428 women from the Community Awareness Resources and Education (CARE) study were utilized. A weighting scheme for eight risky sexual behaviors was generated and validated in creating the CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index. Cutpoints were then identified to classify women as having a low, medium, or high level of risky sexual behavior.

Results

Index scores ranged from 0 to 35, with women considered to have a low level of risky sexual behavior if their score was less than six (31.3% of sample), a medium level if their score was 6–10 (30.6%), or a high level if their score was 11 or greater (38.1%). A strong association was observed between the created categories and having a previous abnormal Pap smear test (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index provides a tool for measuring risky sexual behavior level for cervical cancer research. Future studies are needed to validate this index in varied populations and test its use in the clinical setting.

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Acknowledgments

Financial Support: This research was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant 1P50CA105632, Grant GRT8230100 from the National Cancer Institute, and the General Clinical Research Center at The Ohio State University, Grant UL1-RR025755 from the National Center of Research Resources of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Paul L. Reiter, Amy K. Ferketich & Electra D. Paskett

  2. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 323D Rosenau Hall, CB 7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7440, USA

    Paul L. Reiter

  3. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Paul L. Reiter, Mira L. Katz & Electra D. Paskett

  4. Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Mira L. Katz

  5. Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Mack T. Ruffin IV

Authors
  1. Paul L. Reiter
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  2. Mira L. Katz
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  3. Amy K. Ferketich
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  4. Mack T. Ruffin IV
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  5. Electra D. Paskett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul L. Reiter.

Additional information

All research was conducted at The Ohio State University.

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Reiter, P.L., Katz, M.L., Ferketich, A.K. et al. Measuring cervical cancer risk: development and validation of the CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index. Cancer Causes Control 20, 1865–1871 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9380-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9380-5

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