Abstract
National cervical screening programs have played a pivotal role in the prevention of cervical cancer. However, practices across the UK have reached an all-time low in cervical screening uptake. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of implementing an automated voice message reminder within the local general practice (GP) telephone triage system and explore the reasons which deter eligible patients away from cervical screening.
A 20-second voice-message reminder in the telephone queue was played, addressing key risk factors along with a message from a child who lost his mother to cervical cancer. From the anonymised GP database, weekly new smear test bookings were monitored from 4 weeks prior until 2 weeks after the intervention was implemented. To qualitatively assess factors which deter patients away from screening, female patients were randomly sampled to fill in an anonymous questionnaire.
The use of a low-cost 20 second voice message in the telephone queue across UK GP practices could be an effective method to increase cervical smear test coverage towards the national target of 80%.
35 questionnaire responses were received, main themes reported for not attending screening include embarrassment(37%), busy schedule(32%) and cultural differences(24%). In the week following the intervention, cervical smear tests increased more than 2-fold, from an average of 12 to 26 smears per week. This could be partly due to the convenient timing of voice recording, reminding them to book both appointments simultaneously and the child’s emotive message.
Psychological effects of a low-grade abnormal cervical smear test result: anxiety and associated factors