Evaluation of a call programme for cervical cytology screening in women aged 50-60.

For many years Tayside has benefited from a successful opportunistic cytology screening programme. In recent years, however, the decrease in mortality due to cervical cancer has levelled off, with most cases of severe disease arising in women who have not been screened. In view of this the health board developed a new computer system for call and recall based on the community health index. This facility allowed the unscreened population to be identified and located on an individual general practice basis. The findings of the call programme in the 3136 women aged 50-60 were studied. The 29 practices in Perth and Kinross participated in the scheme. Before the call started 4287 out of 7423 (58%) women had been screened, and after the call programme this had risen to 5109 (69%). Moreover, a further 1158 (15%) women were identified who had a valid reason for exclusion from the programme. This meant that 6267 (84%) women of the study population were accounted for by the system. The call programme in Tayside will be completed in 1989 and will include all women aged 20-60.