BACKGROUND: The National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme was established to decrease the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in England. METHODS: To identify socioeconomic and general practice factors associated with cervical screening coverage in England, a national cross-sectional study was conducted using data on 26 497 476 female patients registered with 7970 practices in 152 English primary care trusts (PCTs). The 2008-09 data on cervical screening coverage rates from the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) database were used with data on QOF indicators, staffing levels and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The mean cervical screening coverage rate was 78.5% at the PCT level and 83.5% at the practice level. At both levels, cervical screening coverage was significantly negatively associated with the index of multiple deprivation score, percentage of female patients aged 25-49 years and percentage of ethnic minority patients. Also, at the practice level, the percentage of female patients aged 50-64 years, overall QOF score and records and information score were significantly positively associated with cervical screening coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical screening coverage was significantly lower in PCTs and practices serving higher percentages of younger-aged women, non-Caucasian individuals and those living in socioeconomic deprivation. It is therefore important to adopt strategies to improve cervical screening coverage in these groups.
BACKGROUND: The National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme was established to decrease the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in England. METHODS: To identify socioeconomic and general practice factors associated with cervical screening coverage in England, a national cross-sectional study was conducted using data on 26 497 476 female patients registered with 7970 practices in 152 English primary care trusts (PCTs). The 2008-09 data on cervical screening coverage rates from the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) database were used with data on QOF indicators, staffing levels and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The mean cervical screening coverage rate was 78.5% at the PCT level and 83.5% at the practice level. At both levels, cervical screening coverage was significantly negatively associated with the index of multiple deprivation score, percentage of female patients aged 25-49 years and percentage of ethnic minority patients. Also, at the practice level, the percentage of female patients aged 50-64 years, overall QOF score and records and information score were significantly positively associated with cervical screening coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical screening coverage was significantly lower in PCTs and practices serving higher percentages of younger-aged women, non-Caucasian individuals and those living in socioeconomic deprivation. It is therefore important to adopt strategies to improve cervical screening coverage in these groups.
Authors: Jane Wardle; Christian von Wagner; Ines Kralj-Hans; Stephen P Halloran; Samuel G Smith; Lesley M McGregor; Gemma Vart; Rosemary Howe; Julia Snowball; Graham Handley; Richard F Logan; Sandra Rainbow; Steve Smith; Mary C Thomas; Nicholas Counsell; Steve Morris; Stephen W Duffy; Allan Hackshaw; Sue Moss; Wendy Atkin; Rosalind Raine Journal: Lancet Date: 2015-12-09 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Chloe Grimmett; Alexis Macherianakis; Helen Rendell; Helen George; Gwen Kaplan; Gillian Kilgour; Emily Power Journal: Perspect Public Health Date: 2014-09