Opportunities for enhanced cervical and breast screening referral in Charleston County

In order to increase awareness of the need for pap smear and mammographic cancer screening, the Professional Education Committee of the Charleston County Chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS) separately surveyed Charleston County women and physicians regarding their use of women's cancer screening tests. Seven hundred and thirty-one women responded to a Cancer Screening Survey for Women. Women not complying with ACS guidelines for pap smears and mammography, when compared to women complying with the guidelines, were found to be twice as likely to be non-white, much more frequently lacked a regular physician or a gynecologist, more commonly lacked insurance paying at least in part for the test, and more frequently reported that physicians visited did not suggest pap smear or mammographic screening. Almost one-third of 75 responding physicians acknowledged not discussing pap smear and mammographic screening with their patients, a practice most often attributed to "specialization." Among physicians not referring women for needed mammograms or pap smears, roughly half also cited patient refusal, deferral, and oversight as reasons. The survey data suggest that a simple, practical, method is needed in doctors' offices to remind women of the need for periodic pap smear and mammographic screening, especially whenever women lacking a regular gynecologist seek any type of medical care. The authors recognize that these samples of females and physicians are not necessarily representative of those components of the Charleston area overall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)