Some aspects of cervical screening in southern New Zealand; the situation before implementation of the national cervical cancer prevention programme.
To gain some idea of cervical screening in Otago and Southland (two southern provinces of New Zealand), before the implementation of a national cervical cancer prevention programme, a questionnaire was sent to all doctors identified as smear takers. Questionnaires were returned by 75% of the doctors. Only 53.8% of practice nurses were involved in taking smears. Well Women Clinics staffed by nurses were not widespread in either province. Just under half (46.4%) of doctors took cervical smears as part of a health check programme. Sixty-three per cent (63.3%) routinely performed a pelvic examination when taking a smear. Surprisingly few doctors were familiar with the technique of placing spatula and cytobrush samples on one slide, a manoeuvre which could significantly reduce the workload of the cytology laboratories. Only a minority of doctors were aware of a new sampler which can provide samples equivalent to combined spatular-cytobrush smears. There was confusion over the timing of a repeat smear following two normal ones. The recommended interval of 3 years was only complied with by 44.2% of doctors. However, 71.4% of respondents did remind women to have smears. The study indicates that many doctors already provide patients with a good cervical screening service, and this augers well for the national screening programme.
Chang
A R
AR
Department of Pathology, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009313:National Health Programs; D009520:New Zealand; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears