The weight loss information that people were likely to access online was often of substandard quality because most comprehensive and quality Web sites ranked too low in search results.

Despite declining cervical cancer rates, ethnic minorities continue to bear an unequal burden in morbidity and mortality. While access to screening is a major barrier, low levels of knowledge and cultural influences have been found to play a part in underutilization of preventive services. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a promontora-led educational intervention on cervical cancer and human papillomavirus knowledge in mainly Hispanic females attending a primary care clinic. One hundred ten females were recruited from the waiting room of a busy primary care clinic and invited to attend individual or small group educational sessions. Participants completed knowledge surveys pre- and post-intervention. An overall evaluation of the educational session was also completed. Following the educational intervention, participants showed an improvement in knowledge scores from a mean score of 10.8 (SD 3.43) out of a possible score of 18 to a mean score of 16.0 (SD1.51) (p < 0.001). 94.5 % of participants rated as excellent, the presentation of information in a way that was easy to understand, most reported that it was a good use of their time and that it lowered their anxiety about testing for early detection of cervical cancer. An educational intervention delivered by well-trained Promotora/Lay health care worker significantly improves patient's cervical cancer and HPV knowledge and can be a useful tool in patient education in the clinical setting especially with high risk populations.

Objective The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability and intention to use cervico-vaginal self-sampling for hrHPV infection after receiving an educational intervention among the predominantly Hispanic population residing along the U.S.-Mexico border. Methods Women received an educational intervention about cervical cancer prevention through screening with conventional cytology and with self-sampling for hrHPV. After the educational intervention women performed the self-sampling test. Women’s attitudes towards the self-sampling test and cervical cytology were assessed and compared. Results A total of 110 women aged 30 – 65 years completed the study. The mean age of the population was 48 years (SD 9.3); most (87%) self-identified as being Hispanic and half were born in Mexico; 16% had not had cervical cytology done in 3 years. Self-sampling was more acceptable than cervical cytology; acceptability scores were 25.0(SD 2.9) and 22.7(SD 3.0) respectively, with the maximum possible score being 28. (p <.001). A large proportion of women (42.7%) preferred both tests equally. We found high intention to use and recommend self-sampling. Contrary to previous studies, there were no differences between cervical cytology and self-sampling regarding women’s concerns about performing the test well and the accuracy of the test, which we attribute to the educational intervention. Conclusion The high acceptability of self-sampling after participants received education about the test and the reported intention to use it if made available adds to the evidence on the feasibility of integrating self-testing within cervical cancer screening guidelines.

The metabolic changes present in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been associated with increased risk of pancreatic and colon cancers; however, there is little information about the association between MetS and cervical cancer risk. We performed a case-control study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999–2010. We identified women 21 years of age and older, of which an estimated 585,924 (2.3% of the sample) self-reported a history of cervical cancer (cases). About half (48.6%) of cases and 33.2% of controls met criteria for MetS. Logistic regression analysis showed increased odds of history of cervical cancer among women with MetS (OR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.06, 3.42; P value ≤ 0.05) for the risk of history of cervical cancer among women with MetS while adjusting for other known risk factors (high number of lifetime sexual partners, multiparty, history of hormonal contraceptive use, and history of smoking) (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.02, 3.26; P value ≤ 0.05). In this US surveyed population we found increased odds of history of cervical cancer among subjects with MetS.