Korean J Fam Med.  2012 May;33(3):174-181. 10.4082/kjfm.2012.33.3.174.

Factors Associated with the Use of Uterine Cervical Cancer Screening Services in Korean Elderly Women

• Ko KD
• Park SM
• Lee K

• KMID: 2235501
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2012.33.3.174

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is an effective screening test for the early detection of uterine cervical cancer. The Pap test still plays an important role in Korean elderly women, as uterine cervical cancer remains a frequent form of cancer and an important cause of death. However, the participation rate and other factors related to the Pap test in Korean elderly women have been studied insufficiently.
METHODS
This study included 654 individuals aged 65 and over who completed a cervical cancer screening questionnaire from the Third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005. Using multiple logistic regression, odds ratios and confidence intervals for the association between attendance of the Pap test and sociodemographic or health-related factors were calculated.
RESULTS
One hundred and eleven individuals (17.0%) of the study population showed compliance with Pap testing within the previous 2 years. We recognized that the most elderly women (75 years and over) or those with lower levels of education were less likely to have had the test.
CONCLUSION
Primary health care providers need to make efforts to improve attendance rates of Pap smear screening in Korean elderly women, individually taking into account previous Pap results, life expectancy, risk factors for cervical cancer, and preferences. More attention will especially be needed among the eldest elderly or less educated elderly women.

Keyword

Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears; Health Services for the Aged

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cause of Death
Compliance
Female
Health Services for the Aged
Humans
Life Expectancy
Logistic Models
Mass Screening
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Primary Health Care
Risk Factors
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Vaginal Smears