Table 3 Understanding of the meaning of smear test results of women given different results of cervical smear and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests. Values are percentages (numbers)

Abnormal results Statement Normal result (n=366) HPV negative (n=331) Not tested for HPV (n=143) HPV positive (n=536) I definitely do not have cervical cancer 31 (112) 12 (39) 15 (21) 12 (63) I am very unlikely to have cervical cancer 39 (143) 29 (94) 19 (27) 19 (103) I am unlikely to have cervical cancer 27 (97) 38 (125) 39 (56) 35 (187) I am likely to have cervical cancer 0 5 (16) 8 (11) 8 (44) I have cervical cancer 0 0 0 0 I don't know 3 (12) 16 (53) 19 (27) 26 (137)