A cervical cytology campaign using a computerised age-sex register

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cervical cancer screening is crucial for early detection and prevention.
• Effective invitation strategies and publicity are key to maximizing participation in screening programs.
• Health centers play a vital role in delivering community-based screening initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of a targeted cervical screening campaign.
• To assess response rates, attendance, and refusal rates for cervical smears.
• To compare the impact of different publicity methods on screening uptake.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a computerized age-sex register to invite women aged 25-64 for cervical smears.
• Implemented a three-month screening campaign with publicity measures including posters, newspaper ads, and handbills.
• Calculated campaign costs per smear taken and analyzed response and attendance data.

Main Results:

• 80.7% of invited women responded to the invitation.
• 11.5% of respondents refused the test, and 7.6% of acceptors failed to attend.
• Posters were identified as the most effective publicity method; the campaign cost approximately £2.71 per smear.
• Over 70% of the target population underwent screening during the campaign or preceding three years.

Conclusions:

• The cervical screening campaign demonstrated a high response rate and identified effective publicity channels.
• While over 70% coverage was achieved, the cost-effectiveness remains undetermined due to data limitations.
• Further research is recommended to validate the cost-benefit of such screening initiatives.