Table 2 Themes of barriers to anal self-examination (ASE)
| Attitudinal barriers | Concern about discomfort with any anal examinations |
| Anxiety about finding an abnormality | |
| Preference for a health professional to do an anal examination | |
| Too many sensations or sexual connotations with ASE | |
| Knowledge barriers | Lack of awareness of anal cancer risk |
| Ignorance of how anal cancer presents | |
| Practical barriers | Inadequate physical flexibility to conduct an ASE |
| Importance of cleanliness before ASE |