Implementing a standardized protocol to improve cervical cancer screening rates in primary care

Routine cervical cancer screening for women aged 21-65 is a recommended standard practice. Early identification and treatment of cervical cancer improves patient outcomes.

Cervical cancer screening rates at the primary care project site were 51%, well below the national benchmark of 87%. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase cervical cancer screening rates by implementing a standardized eligibility assessment protocol.

This initiative took place at an outpatient family practice site over 7.5 months and included 2,018 eligible patients.

Evidence-based interventions included a standardized process change that shifted eligibility assessment from an opportunistic screening by providers to a proactive screening by clinical staff. Using a system reminder prompt, clinical staff began assessing all eligible patients during rooming and proactively scheduling future Pap appointments in office or placing OBGYN referrals, per patient preference.

A statistically significant increase in cervical cancer screening rates occurred, 33% ( p < .001). The rate of scheduled Pap appointments increased by 124% ( p < .001), the rate of OBGYN referrals increased by 300% ( p < .001), and the rate of completed Pap tests in office increased by 280% ( p < .001).

The results suggest that implementing a proactive, standardized screening process can increase cervical cancer screening rates in primary care.