Interventions to encourage the uptake of cervical screening

Invitation letters and automated reminders appear to increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening compared with usual care.

A Cochrane review included 38 studies. Overall, invitations appeared to be effective methods of increasing uptake. In addition, there was limited evidence to support the use of educational materials. The number and quality of included studies limited evidence regarding effectiveness of other interventions. Informed uptake of cervical screening was not considered by any studies.

Another Cochrane review assessed the effect of automated telephone communication systems (ATCS) on cervical cancer screening. ATCS Plus (ATCS with additional functions such as access to an expert to request advice) interventions slightly increased cervical cancer screening compared with usual care (45 303 versus 30 229 (moderate certainty).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes). The majority of the studies were from developed countries and so the relevance to developing countries is unclear.

Ədəbiyyat

1. Forbes C, Jepson R, Martin-Hirsch P. Interventions targeted at women to encourage the uptake of cervical screening. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(3):CD002834 [Review content assessed as up-to-date: 28 March 2011] .
2. Posadzki P, Mastellos N, Ryan R et al. Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long-term conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;12():CD009921.