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Related Experiment Videos

Cervical screening: time to change the policy.

James A Dickinson1

  • 1Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/F, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. jad@cuhk.edu.hk

The Medical Journal of Australia
|June 18, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The cervical cancer screening policy recommends Pap smears every three years, a shift from the previous two-year interval. This change aims to improve resource allocation and screening program effectiveness.

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Response.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2024

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • The "organised approach to preventing cancer of the cervix" established a two-year Pap smear interval in 1991 for sexually active women aged 18-70.
  • This two-year interval was a compromise, moving towards a scientifically supported three-year interval, due to resistance to annual screening.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the "organised approach" safeguards.
  • To propose a policy change to a three-year cervical cancer screening interval.
  • To suggest reconsidering the starting age for Pap smears in young women.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the effectiveness of implemented safeguards within the "organised approach" to cervical cancer prevention.
  • Analysis of the balance between potential benefits and harms of screening in young women.

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  • Consideration of resource allocation for screening programs.

    • Main Results:

    • The safeguards within the "organised approach" have been proven effective.
    • A three-year screening interval is now deemed appropriate.
    • Increased screening intervals can reallocate resources to underscreened populations and program improvement.

    Conclusions:

    • The policy should be updated to recommend a three-year Pap smear interval.
    • Revisiting the age for commencing cervical cancer screening is warranted.
    • Evidence-based decisions may require political intervention if professional consensus is not achieved.