Increasing the uptake of cervical smears: strategies implemented among general practitioners in Auckland.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate three strategies designed to increase the uptake of cervical smears among specified groups of women through a collaborative partnership between the Auckland Area Health Board and selected Auckland general practitioners.


METHODS
Using action-based research general practitioners and practice nurses were engaged to initiate ways of inviting women in their practices to have cervical smears. Both formative and process evaluations were made. Concurrently, outcomes were measured in terms of call/recall systems, uptake rates and cost barriers.


RESULTS
Where financial incentives were given to establish call/recall systems for older women, overall uptake rates increased by 21%, and by 154% for women over 45 years. Over one third of a targeted group of women aged between 60 and 70 years responded to an invitation to have a free smear. Of these 109 women, fourteen, with a median age of 67 years, had their first smear. Almost two thirds indicated that cost had never been a barrier.


CONCLUSIONS
The determining factor for women having a cervical smear in all three strategies was a personal invitation from their general practitioner or practice nurse. Invitations were dependent upon having accurate call/recall systems. This evaluation of the collaborative process between Auckland Area Health Board and local general practitioners demonstrated how manager and provider partnerships can benefit the consumer.
White
G E
GE
Department of General Practice, University of Auckland School of Medicine.
McAvoy
B R
BR
Gleisner
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management; D005380:Financing, Government; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009817:Office Management; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*