1. An audit of the cervical screening programme in the National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC)
- Author
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Cristina Herteu, Shamus Salehin, Jo-Hanna H Ivers, Mike Scully, John R. Kelly, Kieran Hennigan, Shay Keating, Anna Kreisel, Marie O' Sullivan, Liam Kennedy, Huma Farid, and Maeve Haran
- Subjects
Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Uterine cervical neoplasms ,Audit ,Alcohol use disorder ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ,Women’s health ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Mass Screening ,Outpatient clinic ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Early Detection of Cancer ,Cervical cancer ,Cervical screening ,business.industry ,Opioid-related disorders ,Opioid use disorder ,General Medicine ,Guideline ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Family medicine ,Female ,Original Article ,Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ,business ,Substance-related disorders - Abstract
Background Women diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs) have higher rates of major medical conditions compared to women without SUDs. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20–39 years worldwide and women with SUDs have an increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women without SUD. The National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC) cervical screening programme, derived from the national CervicalCheck programme, offers free cervical screening to patients attending for treatment of SUDs. Aims This study aimed to audit adherence to the NDTC Cervical Screening guidelines before and after the implementation of an awareness-raising educational intervention. Methods The electronic clinical records of women aged between 25 and 60 years attending the lead consultant’s (M.S.) outpatient clinic were reviewed for documentary evidence indicating that information about the cervical screening programme had been discussed. This was completed before and one month after the implementation of an awareness-raising educational intervention. Results All women (n = 46, mean age 36.3 (SD = 6.5) years) had an opioid use disorder; 85% had a benzodiazepine use disorder, and 24% had an alcohol use disorder. Of these, 80% had at least one chronic medical condition, 76% had a psychiatric disorder, and 59% were homeless. Adherence to the NDTC cervical screening guideline, as indicated by documentary evidence in clinical records, was 33% (14/43) at baseline, and rose to 88% (36/41) (p < 0.0001) one month after the intervention. Conclusions This completed audit cycle shows that an awareness-raising educational intervention can significantly improve adherence to a cervical screening programme in women with SUDs.
- Published
- 2021
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