Cervical smears: comparison of knowledge and practice of a general practice sample with a high-risk group

Successful cervical screening programmes depend on the participation of an informed target population. A national cervical screening programme is shortly to be introduced in the Republic of Ireland. We compare the knowledge, attitudes and practice of 395 Irish urban women with 323 high-risk women, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic attenders. There was little difference in knowledge between the 2 groups. Fifty-five per cent of the general practice (GP) sample and 45% of the GUM sample correctly identified the purpose of a smear. Eighty-three per cent of both groups had had at least one smear but only 59% of the high-risk group had had a smear before attending the GUM clinic. Both groups expressed a preference for a female provider. Socio-economic grouping is the strongest predictor of knowledge and uptake of cervical smears and high-risk women were less likely to have opportunistic cervical smears. Information programmes to encourage participation in screening programmes must build on pre-existing knowledge and focus on the relevance and acceptability of the test.