Health

Women prefer annual Pap smears despite guidelines, study reports

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2005

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

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.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn