Factors related to failure to attend the consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test

Abstract

Objectiveto identify the factors related to the failure of women to attend the follow-up consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test.Methoda cross-sectional study, carried out with 775 patients who underwent the Pap smear test in the Centro de Saúde da Família of Fortaleza, between September 2010 and February 2011.Resultsthe majority of the women studied were young (≤35 years), had low levels of education (≤7 years of study), and commenced sexual activity early (≤20 years), with 17.0% of them failing to return to receive the test results. Statistically significant results for the failure to return were related to: young women (p=0.001); early onset of sexual activity (p=0.047); and inadequate knowledge about the Pap smear test (p=0.029). Conclusion the fact that the women failed to return for the result is a problem for the control of cervical cancer and must be addressed through educational strategies that reinforce the importance of the return for the early detection of this cancer.

Cervical Cytological Examination: Perceptions Of Women Attended In Primary Health Care

“…In addition, monitoring, completing and continuing the process of prevention are considered fundamental to combat CC effectively [20].…”

“…A survey conducted in a city in Northeast of Brazil, with women attended in primary health care, found that the difficulty in scheduling for lack of vacancies reveals itself as an institutional barrier to accessing the examination [20]. Therefore, there is a deficiency in the service offered to users seeking the UAPS for quality assistance for prevention and early detection of CC, often causing low adhesion to preventive examination and the distancing of those who had already taken it.…”

Comparison among the efficacy of interventions for the return rate to receive the pap test report: randomized controlled clinical trial

“…One of the aspects that contribute to the lack of adequate follow-up of the patients screened is that the woman does not return to receive the test result. This situation is complex and multifactorial, entailing a high cost for society, as the final impact of the financial and professional investment in each test performed is negatively affected 2 .…”

“…The problem of not returning is present in different contexts 2 - 4 , although to varying extents, indicating the need for the health professionals responsible for preventing Cervical Cancer (CC) to use cognitive strategies, aiming to enhance the women's knowledge on the control of this disease, emphasizing the importance of the return appointment; as well as behavioral strategies, aiming to strengthen the return behavior, using reminders (graphical, visual or phone calls); and social strategies, which can be changes in the current health system, aiming to enhance the dynamics of care to bring down these figures.…”

“…In addition, another factor that motivated this research was the finding, in a preliminary study, undertaken at a Primary Health Care Service (PHCS) in Fortaleza-CE, of the high rate (24%) of Pap test results the users did not receive 2 .…”