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General practitioner attitudes to recall systems for cervical screening
J J Beilby1, M A Wakefield, A M Maddock
1Research and Health Promotion Unit, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Adelaide, SA.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|September 4, 1995
Summary
Most general practitioners (GPs) could benefit from a central Pap smear reminder system to improve cervical screening recall. This system would complement existing practice-based reminder/recall methods.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
- General Practice
Background:
- Pap smear screening is crucial for cervical cancer prevention.
- General practitioner (GP) reminder/recall systems aid in patient follow-up.
- Coordination between GP-based and central recall systems is an area for improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing GP adoption of Pap smear reminder/recall systems.
- To explore methods for integrating GP-based systems with central schemes.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to a random sample of South Australian GPs.
- Response rate was 78% (259 out of 334 GPs).
Main Results:
- 45.2% of GPs utilized practice-based reminder/recall systems, more common in metropolitan practices with computers and shorter practice tenure.
- 91.9% of GPs found a central register helpful for cervical screening.
- Preferences varied for how central reminders should be delivered (to practice, directly to patients, or via labs).
- Most GPs (61.4%) recorded abnormal smears and actively recalled patients (95.6%).
Conclusions:
- Significant variability exists in GP use of practice-based Pap smear reminder/recall systems.
- A central register could serve as a valuable backup reminder service for GPs, enhancing cervical screening follow-up.