Cervical cancer screening in a sexually transmitted disease clinic: Screening adoption experiences from a midwestern clinic

B.E. Meyerson, M.A. Sayegh, A. Davis, J.N. Arno, G.D. Zimet, A.M. LeMonte, J.A. Williams, L. Barclay and B. Van Der Pol

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, e8-e14

Abstract: Objectives: We examined whether a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic could reach women who had not received a Papanicolau (Pap) test in the past 3 years. We also explored staff attitudes and implementation of cervical cancer screening. Methods: Women (n = 123) aged 30 to 50 years were offered cervical cancer screening in an Indiana STD clinic. We measured effectiveness by the patients' self-reported last Pap test. We explored adoption of screening through focus groups with 34 staff members by documenting their attitudes about cervical cancer screening and screening strategy adaptation. We also documented recruitment and screening implementation. Results. Almost half (47.9%) of participants reported a last Pap test 3 or more years previously; 30%had reported a last Pap more than 5 years ago, and 11.4%had a high-risk test outcome that required referral to colposcopy. Staff supported screening because of mission alignment and perceived patient benefit. Screening adaptations included eligibility, results provision, and follow-up. Conclusions. Cervical cancer screening was possible and potentially beneficial in STD clinics. Future effectiveness-implementation studies should expand to include all female patients, and should examine the degree to which adaptation of selected adoption frameworks is feasible.

Keywords: adult; early diagnosis; female; human; Human papillomavirus DNA test; information processing; mass screening; middle aged; outpatient department; Papanicolaou test; procedures; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; United States; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Focus Groups; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests; Humans; Indiana; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302272_4

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302272

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