Cervical Cancer Screening Overuse Among Women With and Without Disability in the U.S. From 2007 to 2016

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Persons with disability are a health disparity population with complex needs.
• Cervical cancer screening overuse is a concern, but understudied in women with disabilities.
• Limited data exists on national estimates of cervical cancer screening overuse among women with and without disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide national estimates of cervical cancer screening overuse among women with and without disability.
• To examine cervical cancer screening overuse across different age groups (younger, middle-aged, older women).

Main Methods:

• Utilized U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines to define cervical cancer screening overuse.
• Defined disability based on limitations in mobility, sensory function, cognition, and daily activities.
• Analyzed Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2007-2016) for women aged ≥17 years.

Main Results:

• The study included 101,083 women (94.8 million weighted).
• Women without disability exhibited significantly higher rates of cervical cancer screening overuse compared to women with disability.
• Middle-aged women (30-64.9 years) showed the highest overuse rates, irrespective of disability status.

Conclusions:

• Cervical cancer screening overuse occurs in both women with and without disabilities.
• Multilevel interventions and economic incentives are necessary to deimplement low-value cervical cancer screening.
• Addressing screening overuse is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.