Research Article, J Womens Health Issues Care Vol: 6 Issue: 5
Follow-Up Behavior after Abnormal Pap test Results in Ohio Appalachia
Brittany M Bernardo1*, Julie Dean-McMahon2, Erinn M Hade3, Mack T Ruffin IV4 and Electra D Paskett1,5
1Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, USA
2Susan G. Komen Columbus, Ohio, USA
3Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA
4Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, USA
5Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, The Ohio State University, USA
*Corresponding Author : Brittany M Bernardo
Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 1590 North High Street, Suite 525, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
Tel: 614-293-3386
E-mail: brittany.bernardo@osumc.edu
Received: June 13, 2017 Accepted: August 18, 2017 Published: August 22, 2017
Citation: Bernardo BM, Dean-McMahon J, Hade EM, Mack T Ruffin IV, Paskett ED (2017) Follow-Up Behavior after Abnormal Pap test Results in Ohio Appalachia. J Womens Health, Issues Care 6:5. doi: 10.4172/2325-9795.1000282
Abstract
Background: Women who do not receive appropriate follow-up after an abnormal Pap test are at risk for cervical cancer. This study aims to examine predictors of follow-up for abnormal Pap results among Appalachian women.
Methods: Women (n=283) with an abnormal Pap test at participating clinics in Appalachia were selected for participation. Medical records were abstracted to determine follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to determine correlates of any follow-up, guideline follow-up and timely guideline follow-up.
Results: Following an abnormal result, 201 (71.0%) women received any follow-up, 171 (60.4%) received follow-up within guidelines, and 122 (43.1%) received timely guideline follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that no recent alcohol use was associated with higher odds of any follow-up (aOR= 2.15, 95% CI [1.10-4.20]) or guideline follow-up (aOR=2.15, CI [1.19-3.90]). Women who attended private clinics had higher odds of any follow-up compared to women who attended other clinics (aOR= 2.82, 95% CI [1.43-5.56]). Women who reported ever smoking had higher odds of any follow-up (aOR= 2.61, CI [1.37- 4.99]) compared to never smokers, and women with less than a high school education had higher odds of timely guideline follow-up (aOR=2.32, CI [1.07-5.06]).
Conclusions: Many Appalachian women with an abnormal Pap test fail to receive timely follow-up. Individual level factors, such as education, alcohol use, smoking status, as well as clinic type may be associated with obtaining follow-up among Appalachian women. These results may aid in designing interventions to target those at risk for failure to follow-up after an abnormal Pap test.
