Assessment of follow-up for low-grade cytological abnormalities in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, 2000-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the management of women in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) before and after the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) guidelines for management of abnormal cytology were published in 2002.


METHODS
We examined the follow-up for 22,342 women with LSIL during 2 periods: 2000-2002 and 2003-2005.


RESULTS
The percentage of providers who followed the recommended guidelines with colposcopy for an LSIL Pap test result increased by 9% from the pre-ASCCP to the post-ASCCP period. An increase was seen in every age and racial/ethnic group. Younger women (<30 years) and white women were more likely than comparison groups to be followed by colposcopy rather than a repeat Pap test.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in percentage of women having colposcopy in 2003, 1 year after the new guidelines were published, suggests a change in provider practices consistent with those guidelines.
Benard
Vicki B
VB
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. vdb9@cdc.gov
Howe
William
W
Saraiya
Mona
M
Helsel
William
W
Lawson
Herschel W
HW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult