Ballarat Women Rely on Pap Test Reminder
Cancer Council Victoria September 08
Doctors in the Ballarat and District Division of GP are being urged to remind women to have two-yearly Pap tests, as latest data from the Cancer Council Victoria shows almost 70 per cent of women rely on prompts from their doctor, or reminder letters from their health service.*
"62.3 per cent of women in the Ballarat and District Division of GP have had a Pap test in the last two years, which is just below the state average of 63 per cent. Unfortunately that means over one third of women in the Division are not screening adequately for cervical cancer**," said PapScreen Victoria's program manager Lea Rawlings.
"Preventative health measures can often be put on the backburner, especially with mounting family and work responsibilities, and this is why Pap test reminders from GPs and health services are vitally important," said Ms Rawlings.
"Women can even be reminded about Pap tests when they come in for an appointment about another health issue, as doctors play such an important role in educating women about health issues and preventative screening measures," added Ms Rawlings.
For more information about cervical cancer prevention or to order any of PapScreen's resources (these include brochures and information sheets for women, GP cards and posters for waiting rooms) visit the PapScreen web site or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
* Cancer Issues Population Survey 2007: PapScreen Victoria component
** Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry Statistical Report 2006
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/09/pap-screen
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