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Australian Journal of Primary Health 2015This article describes translational research (TR) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes used to identify and address barriers and facilitators to Pap smear...
This article describes translational research (TR) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes used to identify and address barriers and facilitators to Pap smear screening within an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS). Rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were conducted, informed by client surveys, a data collection tool, focus groups and internal research. There was a statistically significant increase in Pap smear numbers during PDSA cycles, continuing at 10 months follow up. The use of TR with CQI appears to be an effective and acceptable way to affect Pap smear screening. Community and service collaboration should be at the core of research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings. This model is transferrable to other settings and other health issues.
Topics: Australia; Community Health Services; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services, Indigenous; Humans; Papanicolaou Test; Quality Improvement; Translational Research, Biomedical; Urban Health Services; Urban Population; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 25703868
DOI: 10.1071/PY14088 -
Diagnostic Cytopathology Dec 2018To evaluate the effect of using lubricant during speculum examination for Pap smear collection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of using lubricant during speculum examination for Pap smear collection.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 83 patients attending a medical school clinic. Participants were allocated into two groups: Group 1-Lubricant using; Group 2-No lubricant using. All patients were submitted to two successive collections and after were asked about their level of discomfort. Differences between groups regarding quality, artifacts, cytology, and level of discomfort were observed through chi-squared test. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were also estimated. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.
RESULTS
No significant differences between groups regarding quality, presence of artifacts, and cytological results were observed. Significant lower discomfort level in Group 1 (lubricant using).
CONCLUSION
The use of vaginal lubricant did not affect the results of cytology and could be a useful tool to reduce the discomfort during Pap smear collection.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Lubricants; Papanicolaou Test; Surgical Instruments; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears; Young Adult
PubMed: 30284399
DOI: 10.1002/dc.24069 -
Computational and Mathematical Methods... 2023Image processing has enabled faster and more accurate image classification. It has been of great benefit to the health industry. Manually examining medical images like...
Image processing has enabled faster and more accurate image classification. It has been of great benefit to the health industry. Manually examining medical images like MRI and X-rays can be very time-consuming, more prone to human error, and way more costly. One such examination is the Pap smear exam, where the cervical cells are examined in laboratory settings to distinguish healthy cervical cells from abnormal cells, thus indicating early signs of cervical cancer. In this paper, we propose a convolutional neural network- (CNN-) based cervical cell classification using the publicly available SIPaKMeD dataset having five cell categories: superficial-intermediate, parabasal, koilocytotic, metaplastic, and dyskeratotic. CNN distinguishes between healthy cervical cells, cells with precancerous abnormalities, and benign cells. Pap smear images were segmented, and a deep CNN using four convolutional layers was applied to the augmented images of cervical cells obtained from Pap smear slides. A simple yet efficient CNN is proposed that yields an accuracy of 0.9113% and can be successfully used to classify cervical cells. A simple architecture that yields a reasonably good accuracy can increase the speed of diagnosis and decrease the response time, reducing the computation cost. Future researchers can build upon this model to improve the model's accuracy to get a faster and more accurate prediction.
Topics: Female; Humans; Papanicolaou Test; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Privacy; Cervix Uteri; Neural Networks, Computer
PubMed: 37455684
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9676206 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer... 2013The Pap smear has an important value in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, a serious problem in womens health. This study aimed to determine the status of Turkish...
BACKGROUND
The Pap smear has an important value in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, a serious problem in womens health. This study aimed to determine the status of Turkish women regarding participation in Pap smear testing and affecting factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This descriptive study was conducted on married women between 18-61 years of age selected from those who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Polyclinic of Ataturk University in Erzurum between June-August 2010 for any reason. Data were collected using a questionnaire determining socio-demographic features and analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean, Sd, range, frequency, percentage) and Chi-square test. A level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
Sixty six of the 301 women (21.9%) indicated that they heard a Pap smear test and 16.6% of women had experienced a test. The number of women participating increased with age, duration of marriage, number of births, knowledge about the Pap smear and perception of risk for cervical cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
The importance of the Pap smear test needs to be explained to Turkish women by health staff, to increase awareness and participation in regular screening.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Patient Compliance; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears; Women's Health; Young Adult
PubMed: 23621272
DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.2.981 -
The Western Journal of Medicine Mar 1991
Topics: Female; Humans; Mass Screening; Papanicolaou Test; Reproducibility of Results; Terminology as Topic; United States; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears
PubMed: 2028595
DOI: No ID Found -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Jun 2017A repeat Pap smear is sometimes necessary after a short time interval or even immediately, when patients seek for a second opinion or due to study participation. Only... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
A repeat Pap smear is sometimes necessary after a short time interval or even immediately, when patients seek for a second opinion or due to study participation. Only limited information is available on the possible impact of a short interval between two Pap smears. Most institutions therefore practice a minimum time span of 6-8 weeks before obtaining a second smear since a short interval is commonly believed to be associated with an increase of false negative results in the second smear.
METHODS
Two consecutive Pap smears were obtained from 81 women. 41 smears were processed using the conventional technique, whereas liquid-based cytology was used in the remaining 40 women. Smears were independently evaluated by four different cytopathologists. We analyzed the effect of time interval, both processing techniques and inter-observer variance in cytological evaluation.
RESULTS
While the result of the second smear shows a tendency towards a more benign outcome (odds ratio (OR) 1.436, 95% CI 0.972-2.121), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). No significant differences were observed between conservative and liquid-based cytology (OR 1.554, 95% CI 0.659-3.667, p = 0.31). There was considerable inter-observer variability, and the observer was a strong predictor of the cytological result (OR 0.632-5.083, 95% CI 0.355-8.975, p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
We document a tendency towards a more benign outcome without statistical significance in the second smear. Inter-observer variability of different cytopathologists is high and should be kept in mind when evaluating cytology results.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Cervix Uteri; False Negative Reactions; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Odds Ratio; Papanicolaou Test; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia
PubMed: 28405743
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-017-4369-x -
International Health Jun 2014The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is a safe and effective screening test for pre-invasive cervical cancer. The test is offered free of charge through well-woman clinics...
INTRODUCTION
The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is a safe and effective screening test for pre-invasive cervical cancer. The test is offered free of charge through well-woman clinics in Sri Lanka, but previous studies have shown poor awareness and uptake.
METHODS
We used an interviewer administered validated questionnaire to conduct a cross sectional survey among ever-married women between the ages of 25 and 65 years attending a medical clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. We obtained data on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness/knowledge and uptake status of Pap smear testing.
RESULTS
A total of 188/280 eligible women were interviewed (67.1%). Participant ages ranged from 29-65 years. Awareness about Pap smear testing was found in 111 (59.0%) women of whom 41 (36.9%) did not know that the Pap smear was used to detect pre-cancerous lesions. Only 34 (18.1%) subjects had ever had a Pap smear taken. Univariate associations related to Pap smear uptake were: prior awareness of the test (p<0.001), higher parity (p=0.022), and knowing someone with cervical carcinoma (p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the same as independent associations of test uptake (p<0.001, p=0.012, p=0.013 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge regarding Pap smear testing was poor. Pap smear uptake was very low, and did not parallel prior knowledge, although knowledge did influence uptake. Parity and contact with patients with cervical cancer correlated with uptake. There is an urgent need to increase uptake through a multi-pronged campaign.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Sri Lanka; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tertiary Care Centers; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears
PubMed: 24737803
DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihu021 -
Minerva Ginecologica Dec 1994Remembering the publication of Papanicolau and Traut's monograph in 1943, the authors have realized the use and the spead of the Pap-Smear until the present. They have...
Remembering the publication of Papanicolau and Traut's monograph in 1943, the authors have realized the use and the spead of the Pap-Smear until the present. They have analyzed the different risks of cervical carcinoma. They think that to obtain a further reduction of the morbidity and the death-rate of such a neoplasia, it is necessary to do a pap-smear examination once a year for women with HPV infection or other risk factors. It is possible in this way, to improve results till the 90%.
Topics: Female; Humans; Papanicolaou Test; Risk Factors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears
PubMed: 7885615
DOI: No ID Found -
Preventive Medicine Oct 2013To examine the risk factors associated with never being screened for cervical cancer (CC) in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the risk factors associated with never being screened for cervical cancer (CC) in Brazil.
METHODS
Using the National Household Sample Survey 2008 (PNAD), we analyzed data from 102,108 Brazilian women ages 25-64years. The patients were analyzed as having been or never having been screened with a Pap smear (Yes/No). Age-adjusted prevalence of never-screening was analyzed using a Chi-squared test. Crude and adjusted models using Poisson regression were performed.
RESULTS
The prevalence of never-screened women for CC was 12.9%, 11.5% and 22.2% in Brazil in general, urban and rural areas, respectively. The Brazilian region with the highest prevalence of never-screening was the North (17.4%, 14.7% and 27.3% in general, urban and rural areas, respectively). The factors associated with a higher risk for never being screened were the following: poverty, younger age, lower educational level, non-white skin color, a greater number of children, no supplemental health insurance and not having visited a doctor in the past 12months.
CONCLUSION
Socioeconomic and demographic conditions lead to inequalities in access to Pap smear screening in Brazil. Public health policy addressing these risk groups is necessary.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Brazil; Early Detection of Cancer; Educational Status; Female; Health Care Surveys; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Poverty; Racial Groups; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears
PubMed: 23827721
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.06.026 -
Journal of Women's Health (2002) Jan 2014
Topics: Female; Humans; Papanicolaou Test; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears
PubMed: 24325612
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2013.4634