Community Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE I): Project 3
Community Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE I): Project 3
Community Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) Project - Project 3 will determine if
 Appalachian women have unique risk factors for an abnormal Pap smear that might contribute to
 the increased risk of cervical abnormalities, specifically cancer, in their communities.
The aim of CARE: Project 3 is to determine the social, behavioral, and biological variables
 that might contribute to increased risks of an abnormal Pap smear in Appalachian women in
 Ohio. To accomplish these aims, a case-control study was proposed. Women age 18 and older
 with an intact cervix, not pregnant, and no current or past history of invasive cervical
 cancer are recruited at the time of their scheduled Pap smear from clinics/physician
 practices in Appalachian region of Ohio. Women receiving Pap tests at participating medical
 clinics/physician practices are recruited for a case control epidemiologic study assessing
 HPV prevalence and its impact on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Cervical mucus
 will be collected for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) assays and stored for potential other assays
 related to HPV. Serum will be drawn for HPV serology and stored for future analysis. Controls
 are defined as women with a normal Pap smear. Cases are defined as women with abnormal Pap
 smear (from atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASCUS) to cancer.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Female

 -  18 years or older

 -  Able to give informed consent

 -  Intact cervix

 -  No prior history of invasive cervical cancer

 -  English speaking

 -  Willing to have biological specimens stored for future studies

 -  Resident of Appalachian Ohio

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant

 -  Medical or psychiatric illness that precludes research project requirements, ability
 to give informed consent, or protocol compliance.

 -  Smokers (will be contacted by study team to see if they are eligible/willing to
 participate in CARE: Project 2