Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines to Prevent Cervical Cancer: Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gynecology
• Medical Guidelines

Background:

• Cervical cancer remains a significant global health issue, particularly in Africa, with Nigeria experiencing high mortality rates.
• Clinical practice guidelines from the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Nigeria (SOGON) exist to combat cervical cancer.
• The level of adoption of these SOGON guidelines by Nigerian gynecologists was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Nigerian gynecologists' awareness and understanding of SOGON cervical cancer prevention guidelines.
• To assess the extent to which these guidelines are incorporated into clinical practice.
• To identify barriers affecting the implementation of SOGON guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A convergent parallel mixed methods study was conducted.
• Quantitative data collected via surveys from 105 gynecologists at the SOGON Annual General Meeting.
• Qualitative data gathered through 12 key informant interviews.

Main Results:

• High awareness (93.3%) and endorsement (70.5%) of SOGON guidelines were reported.
• Suboptimal integration into routine practice observed (58.1%).
• Key barriers included limited training (67.6%), resource constraints (60.9%), and lack of institutional support (54.3%).

Conclusions:

• Despite high awareness, SOGON guideline adoption for cervical cancer prevention is suboptimal in Nigeria.
• Systemic barriers necessitate improvements in training, resources, and institutional backing.
• Enhancing guideline implementation is crucial for advancing cervical cancer prevention efforts.