An Observational Study of GP Verbal Reminders Upon Cervical Screening

It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 deaths a year are now prevented due to the effectiveness of the UK's national cervical screening programme and mortality rates have dropped by over 75% since the 1970s. These statistics corroborate the importance of the screening programme in reducing mortality from cervical cancer. Cervical screening rates in the UK remains stubbornly below 80% and interventions are needed to attract the 20% who are missing out on screening. This prospective observational study is designed to measure the impact of a physician intervention in a usual healthcare environment, amongst a heterogeneous patient population to yield replicable real-world results. The intervention arm will receive a physician intervention to inform them of their overdue screening status, remind them of the importance of cervical screening and guide them to book a screening appointment. The screening rate in the intervention arm will be compared to a control made up of patients seen by other clinicians and receiving unstructured reminders. The results will assist physicians in deciding whether a structured intervention is anymore effective than the unstructured advice currently given at improving screening rates in the non responder population.

Inclusion criteria

• Registered patient with a cervix
• Non responder to cervical screening invitation

Exclusion criteria

• Incorrectly reminded i. Coding errors ii. Human error
• Temporary patients i. Did not remain registered for minimum of 6 months following intervention
• Screening refusal
• Inappropriate to include i. Terminal illness ii. Prolonged hospitalisation iii. Death due to non-cervical cancer attributable cause