The 2012 Consensus Pap Test Guidelines: A Failure of Patient Education [24J]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The 2012 consensus cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend longer intervals between Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. We evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of women regarding the purpose and frequency of Pap test screening. METHODS: A 13-question survey was available to patients 18 years and older presenting to three clinical sites for obstetrical or gynecological care. Survey topics included familiarity with the 2012 consensus screening guidelines, cervical cancer knowledge, and attitudes towards screening. RESULTS: Updated data from 752 patients was included for analysis. Participants were primarily age 20-29 (45%) or 30-39 (33%), African American (53%), and had completed at least a high school degree or equivalent (87%). Pap tests were correctly identified as a screening test for cervical cancer by 75% of participants and 72% named Human Papillomavirus as the cause of cervical cancer. However, only 9% of women selected the correct screening intervals for patients age 21-29 and only 3% selected the appropriate screening interval for patients age 30 and above. Overall, 52% were uncomfortable with lengthening screening intervals and 60% would prefer a yearly pap test. However, 62% of women believed that additional education would increase their comfort with less frequent screening. CONCLUSION: Across diverse clinical populations, women are knowledgeable about the purpose of Pap tests and about cervical cancer. However, consistent with our previous data analysis, most women are unaware of the updated screening guidelines and many feel uncomfortable with increased screening intervals. Further education regarding the timing of pap tests is necessary to improve women’s comfort with the consensus guidelines.

Applying Sparse Machine Learning Methods to Twitter: Analysis of the 2012 Change in Pap Smear Guidelines. A Sequential Mixed-Methods Study

“…In addition, the information shared about the change in guidelines was mostly neutral or positive for eliminating the need to have a Pap smear every year. This finding appears to be more positive than other existing literature on women’s perceptions about the new guidelines, which found that a substantial proportion of women expressed concerns about increasing the intervals between screenings [ 20 , 21 ].…”