5 - (OP16) Short-term Psychological Effects of a Mobile-based CBT Intervention Among Hpv-positive Women in Low-resource Settings in China: Preliminary Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background
Receiving an HPV-positive screening result may trigger anxiety, psychological distress, and self-stigmatization, particularly in settings with limited access to psychosocial support. Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions may offer a scalable approach to address these short-term psychological responses.
Methods
We conducted a randomized controlled trial among women who had received HPV-positive screening results within the past month in Xiangyuan and Yangcheng counties in Shanxi province, China, assigning participants to either a CBT-based intervention or a control group in 2025. The intervention consisted of a one-week mobile-based program developed by public health and psychological experts, requiring approximately 5-10 minutes per day and consisted of three brief video modules per session. Intervention program intergrated key cognitive behavioral therapy components, including psycho-education, emotion regulation, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, self-efficacy, coping strategies, behavioral planning, action intention, and self-acceptance. The control group received usual cervical cancer screening care according to local clinical practice, without any additional psychological or behavioral intervention. Psychological outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2-month follow-up, including anxiety (STAI-6), psychological distress (GHQ-12), self-stigma (SSS-S), perceived social support, and illness perception (B-IPQ). Intervention effects were evaluated using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models with group, time, and group-by-time interaction terms.
Results
A total of 106 participants were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. After excluding 7 participants with incomplete responses, 99 participants were included in the final analysis (45 in the intervention group and 54 in the control group). Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups.
In generalized estimating equation models, the group-by-time interaction indicated a significant reduction in anxiety at 2-month follow-up in the intervention group compared with the control group (β = −2.72, 95% CI −4.15 to −1.28, p < 0.001). A significant decrease in self-stigma was also observed in the intervention group (β = −0.47, 95% CI −0.84 to −0.11, p = 0.011). No statistically significant intervention effects were found for psychological distress.
Conclusions
This study provides evidence that a brief online CBT-based intervention can produce meaningful short-term reductions in anxiety and self-stigma among women receiving HPV-positive screening results. Digital CBT interventions may serve as an accessible psychosocial support strategy during the early period following HPV result disclosure.