![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif)
Barriers to Follow-up of Abnormal Papanicolaou Smears in an Urban Community Health Center
M. Diane McKee, MD;
Joseph Lurio, MD;
Paul Marantz, MD, MPH;
William Burton, MA;
Michael Mulvihill, DrPH
Arch Fam Med. 1999;8:129-134.
Objective To determine factors predictive of failure to return for colposcopy among women with significant abnormalities on Papanicolaou smears in a high-risk clinical population.
Design Telephone survey.
Setting An urban community health center.
Participants Two hundred seventy-nine women randomly selected from all women seen at the health center with abnormal Papanicolaou smears requiring colposcopy during 1993 to 1994. Six (2%) refused participation, and 19% could not be reached for inclusion. Subjects were mostly minority women receiving Medicaid.
Main Outcome Measure Completion of colposcopy.
Results Of the 279 selected women, 79% were interviewed. The rate of adherence with colposcopy was 75% for the respondents. Women who did not know the results of their smear or who incorrectly understood their results were significantly less likely to return for colposcopy (P=.001). Younger women, especially teenagers, were less likely to return (P=.02). Socioeconomic status, education, primary language, health beliefs, fear of cancer, and clinician's gender or discipline were not associated with rate of follow-up. Barriers involving transportation, child care, and insurance also did not predict follow-up.
Conclusions Effective communication of results is the most important factor related to follow-up after abnormal Papanicolaou smear in this setting. In other settings, other factors may be of greater importance.
From the Departments of Family Medicine (Drs McKee, Lurio, and Mulvihill and Mr Burton) and Epidemiology and Social Medicine (Dr Marantz), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
RELATED ARTICLE
The Archives of Family Medicine Continuing Medical Education Program
Arch Fam Med. 1999;8(2):107-109.
FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
![](/ServeContent?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchfami.ama-assn.org%2Ficons%2Fspacer.gif) |
Women's Initial Experience of Abnormal Papanicolaou Smear
Mitchell and Hall
J Holist Nurs 2009;27:93-102.
ABSTRACT
Follow-Up of Abnormal Pap Smears Among Incarcerated Women
Clarke et al.
J Correct Health Care 2007;13:22-26.
ABSTRACT
Feasibility of Management of High-Grade Cervical Lesions in a Single Visit: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Brewster et al.
JAMA 2005;294:2182-2187.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Cervical Cancer Prevention: Making Programs More Appropriate and Pragmatic
Blumenthal and Gaffikin
JAMA 2005;294:2225-2228.
FULL TEXT
Effect of patient socioeconomic status on perceptions of first- and second-year medical students
Woo et al.
CMAJ 2004;170:1915-1919.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
What Factors Are Associated with Diagnostic Follow-Up after Abnormal Mammograms? Findings from a U.S. National Survey
Yabroff et al.
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2004;13:723-732.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Women's Experiences of Abnormal Cervical Cytology: Illness Representations, Care Processes, and Outcomes
Karasz et al.
Ann Fam Med 2003;1:196-202.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Is the Promise of Cancer-Screening Programs Being Compromised? Quality of Follow-Up Care after Abnormal Screening Results
Yabroff et al.
Med Care Res Rev 2003;60:294-331.
ABSTRACT
|