title: National audit of women with abnormal cervical smears in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the follow-up of women with abnormal cervical smears identified by the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey and clinical audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  The population included women aged 20-69 years enrolled on the NCSP with first abnormal smear recorded in 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were interviewed, and clinical data collected from the NCSP-register, and from clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 57%. The proportions of women whose initial assessment, treatment or follow-up fell outside recommended times were between 17 and 35%. Of women with high-grade smears, 72% underwent a treatment procedure. Of these, 91% were excision biopsies, 6% hysterectomies and 4% ablation procedures. Approximately 10% of women had persistent or recurrent abnormalities at 6 and 12 months after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, results were largely reassuring, but limited by the low response rate. Most women were managed within current clinical guidelines. Areas requiring improvement were identified, in particular in relation to longer than recommended waiting times for assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarfati
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sopoaga
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rimene
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003127:Colposcopy; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis