RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination). Means, medians, relative and absolute frequencies were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 1,544 women with mean of age of 34 years (SD=12.6 years) were analyzed. Most of them had access to colposcopic examination within 30 days (65.8%) or 60 days (92.8%) from referral. Mean Total Waiting Time, Partial A Waiting Time, and Partial B Waiting Time were 94.5 days (SD=96.8 days), 67.8 days (SD=95.3 days) and 29.2 days (SD=35.1 days), respectively. CONCLUSION: A large part of the women studied had access to colposcopic examination within 60 days after referral, but Total waiting time was long. Measures to reduce the waiting time for obtaining the first colposcopic examination can help to improve the quality of care in the context of cervical cancer control in the region, and ought to be addressed at the phase between the date of the pap test results and the date of referral to the teaching hospital.
Asunto(s)
Colposcopía , Prueba de Papanicolaou , Tiempo de Tratamiento , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Derivación y Consulta , Estudios Retrospectivos , Listas de Espera , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Avaliar o tempo de espera para obter a primeira colposcopia por mulheres com teste de Papanicolaou alterado. Estudo de coorte retrospectivo desenvolvido com pacientes que demandaram colposcopia para esclarecer o resultado de colpocitologia alterada, entre janeiro de 2002 e agosto de 2008, em região metropolitana do Brasil. Os tempos de espera foram definidos como: Tempo de Espera Total (intervalo entre a data do resultado da citologia e a data da primeira colposcopia); Tempo de Espera Parcial A (intervalo entre a data do resultado da citologia e a data do encaminhamento da unidade de origem); e Tempo de Espera Parcial B (intervalo entre a data do encaminhamento da unidade de origem e a data da primeira colposcopia). Foram calculadas médias, medianas e frequências absolutas e relativas. Os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e do χ2 de Pearson foram usados para verificar a significância estatística. 1.544 mulheres foram incluídas, com média de idade de 34 anos (DP=12,6 anos). A maior parte teve acesso ao exame dentro de 30 dias (65,8%) ou de 60 dias (92,8%) a partir da data do encaminhamento da unidade de origem. As médias do Tempo de Espera Total, do Tempo de Espera Parcial A e do Tempo de Espera Parcial B foram de 94,5 dias (DP=96,8 dias), 67,8 dias (DP=95,3 dias) e 29,2 dias (DP=35,1 dias), respectivamente. Grande parte das mulheres teve acesso à colposcopia dentro de 60 dias após o encaminhamento feito na unidade de origem, mas a espera total foi longa. Medidas para reduzir o tempo de espera para a primeira colposcopia podem ajudar a melhorar a qualidade da atenção no âmbito do controle do câncer do colo do útero e devem ser direcionadas à etapa entre a data do resultado da citologia e o encaminhamento para o polo de colposcopia.
To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears. Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination). Means, medians, relative and absolute frequencies were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance. A total of 1,544 women with mean of age of 34 years (SD=12.6 years) were analyzed. Most of them had access to colposcopic examination within 30 days (65.8%) or 60 days (92.8%) from referral. Mean Total Waiting Time, Partial A Waiting Time, and Partial B Waiting Time were 94.5 days (SD=96.8 days), 67.8 days (SD=95.3 days) and 29.2 days (SD=35.1 days), respectively. A large part of the women studied had access to colposcopic examination within 60 days after referral, but Total waiting time was long. Measures to reduce the waiting time for obtaining the first colposcopic examination can help to improve the quality of care in the context of cervical cancer control in the region, and ought to be addressed at the phase between the date of the pap test results and the date of referral to the teaching hospital.
