Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine how closely certified nurse-midwives in the United States follow contemporary cervical cancer screening guidelines. A survey was sent to 264 randomly selected certified nurse-midwives. Survey questions included demographics and clinical scenarios addressing initiation, frequency, and cessation of screening. Responses were received from 60% of the sampled certified nurse-midwives who had valid mailing addresses; 127 were eligible for the analytic sample. Many nurse-midwives initiate cervical cancer screening earlier than guidelines recommend; 72% would initiate screening in an 18-year-old within 1 month of coitarche, while 36% would begin screening virginal girls at age 18, and many continue cervical cancer screening after guidelines recommend cessation. More than 60% of the respondents would continue screening a woman who had undergone total hysterectomy for symptomatic fibroids who had no history of dysplasia, and half would continue to screen a 70-year-old woman with a 30-year history of previous normal Pap tests. In addition, despite guidelines which recommend less frequent screening, more than one-quarter (28%) would continue annual screening in a 35-year-old woman with three or more normal tests. Certified nurse-midwives are performing cervical cancer screening more frequently than current guidelines recommend. Comparisons to the practice of other providers are offered. Education to limit unnecessary testing is needed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11-18 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- certified nurse-midwives
- cervical cancer
- screening
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nursing(all)
Cite this
Cervical Cancer Screening Practices of Certified Nurse-Midwives in the United States. / Murphy, Patricia Aikins; Schwarz, Eleanor; Dyer, Jane M.
In: Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, Vol. 53, No. 1, 01.01.2008, p. 11-18.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cervical Cancer Screening Practices of Certified Nurse-Midwives in the United States
AU - Murphy, Patricia Aikins
AU - Schwarz, Eleanor
AU - Dyer, Jane M.
PY - 2008/1/1
Y1 - 2008/1/1
N2 - The purpose of this study was to determine how closely certified nurse-midwives in the United States follow contemporary cervical cancer screening guidelines. A survey was sent to 264 randomly selected certified nurse-midwives. Survey questions included demographics and clinical scenarios addressing initiation, frequency, and cessation of screening. Responses were received from 60% of the sampled certified nurse-midwives who had valid mailing addresses; 127 were eligible for the analytic sample. Many nurse-midwives initiate cervical cancer screening earlier than guidelines recommend; 72% would initiate screening in an 18-year-old within 1 month of coitarche, while 36% would begin screening virginal girls at age 18, and many continue cervical cancer screening after guidelines recommend cessation. More than 60% of the respondents would continue screening a woman who had undergone total hysterectomy for symptomatic fibroids who had no history of dysplasia, and half would continue to screen a 70-year-old woman with a 30-year history of previous normal Pap tests. In addition, despite guidelines which recommend less frequent screening, more than one-quarter (28%) would continue annual screening in a 35-year-old woman with three or more normal tests. Certified nurse-midwives are performing cervical cancer screening more frequently than current guidelines recommend. Comparisons to the practice of other providers are offered. Education to limit unnecessary testing is needed.
AB - The purpose of this study was to determine how closely certified nurse-midwives in the United States follow contemporary cervical cancer screening guidelines. A survey was sent to 264 randomly selected certified nurse-midwives. Survey questions included demographics and clinical scenarios addressing initiation, frequency, and cessation of screening. Responses were received from 60% of the sampled certified nurse-midwives who had valid mailing addresses; 127 were eligible for the analytic sample. Many nurse-midwives initiate cervical cancer screening earlier than guidelines recommend; 72% would initiate screening in an 18-year-old within 1 month of coitarche, while 36% would begin screening virginal girls at age 18, and many continue cervical cancer screening after guidelines recommend cessation. More than 60% of the respondents would continue screening a woman who had undergone total hysterectomy for symptomatic fibroids who had no history of dysplasia, and half would continue to screen a 70-year-old woman with a 30-year history of previous normal Pap tests. In addition, despite guidelines which recommend less frequent screening, more than one-quarter (28%) would continue annual screening in a 35-year-old woman with three or more normal tests. Certified nurse-midwives are performing cervical cancer screening more frequently than current guidelines recommend. Comparisons to the practice of other providers are offered. Education to limit unnecessary testing is needed.
KW - certified nurse-midwives
KW - cervical cancer
KW - screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=37349004477&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=37349004477&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2007.06.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2007.06.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 18164429
AN - SCOPUS:37349004477
VL - 53
SP - 11
EP - 18
JO - Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health
JF - Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health
SN - 1526-9523
IS - 1
ER -