Health
Women prefer annual Pap smears despite guidelines, study reports
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2005
Many women prefer to have a Pap smear every year and believe that recommendations for reduced frequency are based on efforts to reduce health care costs rather than scientific evidence indicating that this is the more effective strategy, according to a study published in this month's American Journal of Medicine.
Researchers surveyed 360 women over age 40 without a history of cancer and found that 63% preferred to be screened annually and 12% wanted it done every six months. Also, 69% would continue to attempt to receive more frequent screening even if their physician recommended less.
"The response is clear," wrote George F. Sawaya, MD, associate professor in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, in an accompanying editorial. "Women do not want less than annual screening, regardless of guidelines."
Most guidelines currently recommend that women over age 30 with at least three prior normal smears reduce screening to every two or three years.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/21/hlbf0221.htm.
