title: Perceptions of under and overutilization of cervical cancer screening services at Latino-serving community health centers.
abstract: We sought to gather the perceptions of clinic personnel at Latino-serving Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) about patients' utilization of screening services for cervical cancer. We conducted one-on-one interviews among 17 clinic personnel at four Latino-serving FQHCs in Oregon. The clinic personnel we interviewed observed both under and overutilization of cervical cancer screening services. Clinic personnel estimated that 20-60 % of eligible patients were underscreened for cervical cancer, with 30 % the most commonly cited percentage. Underscreening was thought to occur among low-income, underinsured, and undocumented patients. Overscreening for cervical cancer was estimated to occur in 10-50 % of eligible patients, with 10 % the most frequently cited proportion. Overscreening was thought to occur among women younger than age 21 and women with a recent pregnancy. Our findings may inform future efforts to promote guideline-appropriate cancer screening and coordinated follow-up care.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, 3800 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, OR 97227, USA. Gloria.d.coronado@kpchr.org
authors.forename: Gloria D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Coronado
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrik
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spofford
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Huyen Hoai
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kapka
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*