Women's responses to cervical interrogation by fluorescent and reflective spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine women's responses to cervical interrogation by fluorescent and reflective spectroscopy (FRS).


METHODS
A convenience sample of women scheduled for a colposcopic examination was interrogated by a cervical FRS system. Thereafter, women completed a 24-item questionnaire that assessed their responses to the spectroscopic test. Likert-scale responses were compared among subgroups using the chi test for trend.


RESULTS
Most women favored FRS used for locating (97.7%; 170/174) and selectively sampling (96.6%; 168/174) cervical neoplasia. Fewer women (81.0%; 141/174) wanted FRS to replace the Pap smear. Most women were neither nervous (73.6%; 128/174) nor bothered (89.1%; 155/174) by the extra time for the FRS assessment. Women's acceptance was substantiated by 84.9% (146/174) and 90.8% (157/173) wanting their doctor to have and insurance company to pay for FRS, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of FRS as a colposcopic adjunct was supported very favorably by women. Fewer women supported FRS replacing Pap smears. These high rates of approval by women should help the implementation of FRS technology.
Ferris
Daron G
DG
Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. dferris@mail.mcg.edu
Litaker
Mark S
MS
Dickman
Eileen D
ED
Allmond
Lynn M
LM
Smith
Kelly M
KM
Arrington
Terry L
TL