Marlow LAV, McBride E, Ridout D, et al. - This study’s findings demonstrate that the initial adverse impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) -positive screening result on anxiety and distress diminishes over time. It has been considered that specific concerns about the result may be longer-lasting and efforts should be made to address them.

• It was shown that women who were HPV positive with abnormal cytology had the highest anxiety scores at baseline (mean=42.2, SD: 15.0), but this had declined by 12 months (mean=37.0, SD: 11.7) and was closer to being within the ‘normal’ range (scores between 34 and 36 are considered ‘normal’).

• At baseline, this group also had the highest distress (mean=3.3, SD: 3.8, scores of 3+ indicate case-level distress), but the lowest distress at 12 months (mean=1.9, SD: 3.1).

• At 6 and 12 months, in comparison with the control group, there were no between-group differences in anxiety or distress for any HPV-positive result group.

• Compared with the HPV-positive with normal cytology group, the control group was less concerned and more reassured about their result at 6 and 12 months.