Factors related to the follow-up of class II patients on the pap smear

Kang, Hee Sung; Jung, Hak Soo; Kang, Min Seok; Kim, Pil Seung; Roh, Yong Kyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancers in women and is responsible for about 14 percent of all female cancer found in Korean women. Early detection is very important because the likelihood of a complete cure is greater, and among the early screen only tools to detect cervical cancers, a Pap smear is most widely used. It has the clinical significance to follow - up patients whose results are classified as class II in their Pap smear. Thereto we tried to find the factors associated with follow-up in class II patients.
METHODS
On Pap smear practiced from Jan. 1, 2000 to Dec. 31 in a University Hospital, 159 patients Pap smear results were categorized as class II, and among the 159 patients, we were able to collect data from 107 patients who voluntarily answered a phone survey. The categories in the survey were the followings : follow- up for the Pap smear, age, age of marriage, presence of menopause, age of menopause, occupation, family history of chronic diseases or cancers, educational level, presence of concomittant diseases, income, average hospital visit frequency in a year, belief of general health, and reason for doing follow- up and reason for not doing it.
RESULTS
Among 107 patients, only 62 patients (57.9 Percent) did follow-up for their Pap smear results. The reasons were doctors follow-up recommendation for Pap smear results and regular health check-up, and the two main reasons not doing follow-up were nonexistence of further symptom and financial distress. In a single variable analysis, the higher educational level, individual income, and hospital visit frequency, the more People had follow-up. But in multiple logistic anarsis, only individual income was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The follow-up rate was as low as 57.9 percent, and the reasons why they did not follow-up were mainly the lack of understanding about the clinical significance of class II result on the Pap smear. Therefore, an advertisement and public education Programs to general public about cervical cancer will make more patients follow up their result on the Pap smear, especially to the low income and low education class people.