Darryn Rennie1, Jennifer Boxsell, Kaye Pedretti. 1. MBBS, FRACGP, DipACSCM, General Practitioner, Dalyellup Family Medical Centre, and Clinical Senior Lecturer School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care with the University of Western Australia, Dalyellup, WA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cervical screening reduces the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer. General practices have opportunities to increase screening rates by modifying the model of service provided. OBJECTIVE: We provide an example of team-based cervical screening in a general practice and report the effectiveness of invitation letters for women with no record of a Pap smear. DISCUSSION: The practice sent invitation letters to women with no record of a Pap smear (or reason for not requiring one) to attend a visit to a women's health clinic comprising a visit to a GP of choice and then a nurse to perform the smear. Practice cervical screening data were collected over 45 months to investigate the impact of invitation letters. The quality of Pap smears performed by nurses was recorded. The biennial cervical screening rate improved by 11%. The percentage of women with no Pap smear recorded was reduced from 41.71% to 27.99%. The quality of the smears taken by the nurses was above the nationwide average. The data show that invitation letters contributed to improved cervical screening and that nurses were highly effective team members in the collection of Pap smears.
BACKGROUND: Cervical screening reduces the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer. General practices have opportunities to increase screening rates by modifying the model of service provided. OBJECTIVE: We provide an example of team-based cervical screening in a general practice and report the effectiveness of invitation letters for women with no record of a Pap smear. DISCUSSION: The practice sent invitation letters to women with no record of a Pap smear (or reason for not requiring one) to attend a visit to a women's health clinic comprising a visit to a GP of choice and then a nurse to perform the smear. Practice cervical screening data were collected over 45 months to investigate the impact of invitation letters. The quality of Pap smears performed by nurses was recorded. The biennial cervical screening rate improved by 11%. The percentage of women with no Pap smear recorded was reduced from 41.71% to 27.99%. The quality of the smears taken by the nurses was above the nationwide average. The data show that invitation letters contributed to improved cervical screening and that nurses were highly effective team members in the collection of Pap smears.