An audit of colposcopy appointment processes in women with abnormal cervical cytology |
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Authors: | C Kietpeerakool M Manopunya P Phuprasertsak T Jaijit J Srisomboon |
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Institution: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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Abstract: | C. Kietpeerakool, M. Manopunya, P. Phuprasertsak, T. Jaijit and J. Srisomboon An audit of colposcopy appointment processes in women with abnormal cervical cytology Objectives: This study was conducted to audit the waiting times and default rates of colposcopy using the standard requirements of the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) 2004 guidelines. Methods: The records of 291 women with abnormal cervical smears referred to the colposcopy clinic between January and December 2008 at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, were reviewed. Results: The proportion of women with abnormal cervical smears of any grade receiving colposcopy appointments within 8 weeks of referral (96.9%) achieved the minimum requirements (≥ 90%). However, the waiting times for women with high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, glandular cell abnormality and invasive lesion smears were longer than recommended by NHSCSP guidelines. The default rate of 15.8% in this study was slightly higher than recommended by the guidelines (< 15%). Having no health insurance, being known to have HIV infection and waiting times longer than 4 weeks were independent predictors of default from an initial colposcopy appointment. Conclusion: The waiting times for colposcopy among women with high‐grade smear abnormality and the default rate failed to meet standard requirements. Designing an effective protocol for colposcopy appointment processes is warranted. |
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Keywords: | Cervical cytology Pap tests audit colposcopy default appointments non‐attendance waiting times |
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