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. 2014;26(9):1186-93.
doi: 10.1080/09540121.2014.894610. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Improving cervical cancer screening rates in an urban HIV clinic

Sara L Cross  1 , Sanaa H Suharwardy, Phani Bodavula, Kenneth Schechtman, E Turner Overton, Nur F Onen, Michael A Lane
Affiliations

Improving cervical cancer screening rates in an urban HIV clinic

Sara L Cross et al. AIDS Care. 2014.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women are at increased risk of invasive cervical cancer; however, screening rates remain low. The objectives of this study were to analyze a quality improvement intervention to increase cervical cancer screening rates in an urban academic HIV clinic and to identify factors associated with inadequate screening. Barriers to screening were identified by a multidisciplinary quality improvement committee at the Washington University Infectious Diseases clinic. Several strategies were developed to address these barriers. The years pre- and post-implementation were analyzed to examine the clinical impact of the intervention. A total of 422 women were seen in both the pre-implementation and post-implementation periods. In the pre-implementation period, 222 women (53%) underwent cervical cancer screening in the form of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing. In the post-implementation period, 318 women (75.3%) underwent cervical cancer screening (p < 0.01). Factors associated with lack of screening included fewer visits attended (pre: 4.2 ± 1.5; post: 3.4 ± 1.4; p < 0.01). A multidisciplinary quality improvement intervention was successful in overcoming barriers and increasing cervical cancer screening rates in an urban academic HIV clinic.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; cervical cancer screening; health maintenance; quality improvement.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Women receiving pap smears in pre-intervention and post-intervention periods
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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