Impact of Patient-Directed Cytology Results Correspondence Program on Follow-Up of High-Grade Pap Tests.

OBJECTIVE: Proper follow-up of high-grade (HG) Pap tests is critical to the prevention of cervical cancer. This study evaluated the impact of a patient-directed cytology results correspondence program on follow-up of HG Pap tests among at-risk women aged 21 to 69 in Ontario. METHODS: A cohort study with a historical control was used to investigate the impact of a result letter on adherence to follow-up after an HG Pap test. Analyses were conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. The intervention group was defined as women with an HG Pap test in 2014-2016, and the control group included women with an HG Pap test in 2010-2012. Follow-up was defined as a colposcopy or related treatments within 6 months of an HG Pap test. Factors that could influence adherence to follow-up were included as covariates in a multivariable logistic regression model (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). RESULTS: The study population comprised 7088 women in the intervention group and 6887 women in the non-intervention group. The follow-up rate in the intervention group was 86.2% compared with 81.0% in the non-intervention group. Controlling for covariates, women in the intervention group were more likely to have a follow-up (adjusted odds ratio 1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.3-1.6). Other significant factors included being registered to a family physician and the physician's gender. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-directed correspondence program that provides Pap test results directly to the woman may reduce loss to follow-up for an HG abnormality, with an increased likelihood that these women will seek and complete a colposcopy and related treatment.

Impact of invitation and reminder letters on cervical cancer screening participation rates in an organized screening program.

Study's Objective was to explore the impact of invitation and reminder letters on cervical cancer screening participation among eligible Ontario women 30 to 69years of age. A cross-sectional study was used to describe factors and screening patterns for 1,150,783 eligible women. A cohort design was used to compare the impact of invitation and reminder letters on Pap uptake comparing women who received the intervention (n=99,278) with a historical non-intervention group (n=130,181). Factors that might influence screening participation were included as covariates in a multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, 26.7% of women who had a Pap test 3 to 5years prior and 9.8% of women with no Pap test in the previous 5years were screened within 9months after the intervention. On cohort analysis, 14.1% of women in the intervention group and 8.5% of women in the non-intervention group were screened within 9months. Being mailed an invitation letter was associated with greater likelihood of screening (OR=1.8, CI 1.7-1.8). Controlling for covariates, the letter intervention was associated with 9month screening for both women with a Pap test 3 to 5years prior (AOR=1.7, CI 1.6-1.8) and those with no Pap test in the previous 5years (AOR=1.8, CI 1.7-1.9). There was a significant effect of all covariates on the participation. The invitation and reminder letter strategy increased cervical cancer screening participation. Additional strategies that could encourage eligible women to participate and/or removing barriers to screening for eligible women may be necessary.

Women's Behaviors Toward Mammogram and Pap Test: Opportunities to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Participation Rates among Older Women.

OBJECTIVES: Screening rates for cervical cancer remain moderate among women over 50 years of age. Because cervical and breast screening interventions can be linked, evaluating screening factors relating to both is important. This study evaluates factors associated with breast and cervical screening participation in women aged 52 to 69. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used to describe characteristics associated with screening behaviors of 1,173,456 eligible women in Ontario, Canada. Overdue for screening was defined as more than 2.5 years from last mammogram or more than 3.5 years from last Pap test. Factors that might influence uptake of mammogram or Pap test were included as covariates in a multivariable multinomial logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, 52.4% of eligible women were up-to-date for both, 21.3% were overdue for both, 14.4% were overdue for Pap test but were up-to-date with mammogram, and 11.9% were overdue for mammogram but were up-to-date with Pap test. There was an opposite effect of age on likelihood of being overdue for Pap test only versus mammogram only. Women aged 67 to 69 compared with those 52 to 54 were more likely to be overdue for Pap test only (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-2.4) and less likely to be overdue for mammogram only (adjusted odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-0.6). A greater proportion of women rostered to a female physician versus a male physician were up-to-date for both (63.7% vs. 51.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing screening patterns may provide physician- and patient-directed strategies to increase cervical screening participation by recruiting women who are overdue for Pap test but undergoing breast cancer screening.