Open AccessCervical screening: population‐based comparisons between self‐reported survey and registry‐derived Pap test rates
Author(s) -
Mamoon Hassan,
Taylor Richard,
Morrell Stephen,
Wain Gerard,
Moore Helen
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2001.tb00313.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical screening , cervical cancer screening , demography , population , cervical cancer , pap test , gynecology , family medicine , environmental health , cancer , sociology
Objective: To compare self‐reported cervical screening rates, as recorded in the 1998 NSW Health Survey, with registry‐based cervical screening rates for NSW for the same period; and to examine factors associated with over‐estimates of cervical screening rates by self‐report. Methods: Self‐reported cervical screening data was extracted from the 1998 NSW Health Survey, biennial screening rates estimated and compared with biennial cervical screening rates for 1997–98, as recorded on the NSW Pap Test Register (PTR). Rates and differences were related to socio‐demographic characteristics of the 17 Area Health Services of NSW. Results: According to the 1998 NSW Health Survey, 74% of women reported having a Pap test during the previous two years. The equivalent rate recorded on the NSW PTR for 1997–98 was 62% ( p <0.0001). Among the 17 Area Health Services of NSW these differences ranged from nine to 19 percentage points. Area‐specific differences between self‐reported and registry‐based screening rates were negatively correlated with the registry‐based screening rate. Age‐specific differences between self‐reported and registry‐based screening rates were positively correlated with registry‐based screening rates. No SES, regional or migrant population characteristics were predictive of differences between recorded and surveyed screening rates. Conclusion: Cervical screening rates in NSW derived from self‐reported survey data exceed the rate recorded by the NSW Pap Test Register by 12 percentage points (equivalent to 19% inflation). Implications: The data in this paper can be used indicatively where necessary to adjust for over‐reporting in cervical cancer screening surveys.