Roles of Health Care Providers and Patients in Initiation of Unnecessary Papanicolaou Testing After Total Hysterectomy
Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess Papanicolaou (Pap) testing use among US adult women with a history of a total hysterectomy for a benign condition and the roles of health care providers and patients in the initiation of screening Pap tests. METHODS: We used 2000 to 2013 data from the National Health Interview Survey on women aged 20 years or older who had undergone a hysterectomy (n = 11 616) to estimate unnecessary Pap test use. RESULTS: The percentage of self-reported Pap testing in the preceding 3 years among women who had undergone a hysterectomy decreased from 72.2% in 2000 to 53.3% in 2013. In 2013, 42.4% of women who had undergone a hysterectomy reported receiving recommendations for screening from a health care provider in the past year (32% of which were unnecessary), and 32.1% reported undergoing Pap tests in the preceding year (22.1% of which were unnecessary). Although the majority of Pap tests were performed at a clinician's recommendation, approximately one fourth were initiated by patients without clinician recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers should advise women who have had a total hysterectomy for a benign condition on appropriate use of screening services.
Authors: Fangjian Guo, Yong-Fang Kuo
Institution: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2520025857