Title

Education Combined with Reminder Strategies to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Rates

Author

Christina E. McLean, Valparaiso University

Date of Award

5-11-2021

Degree Type

Evidence-Based Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Carole A. Pepa

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and a leading cause of death in some countries (Jayasekara, 2020). Approximately 13,800 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. last year, and about 4,290 women died (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2020). Regular cervical cancer screening (CCS) reduces morbidity and mortality, but screening rates are low in the U.S. and at the project site (ACS. 2020). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to increase CCS at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with six clinic locations in Northwest Indiana; the primary project site was a clinic in Porter County. Participants included female patients age 24 to 65 due for CCS (N = 475) who received an educational email on CCS, including an appointment reminder. Two weeks after the initial email, patients who had not scheduled an appointment received a second reminder email. Five weeks after the second email, participants who had not completed CCS received a phone call. If participants identified Spanish as their preferred language, emails and phone calls were conducted in Spanish. The emails were also sent to patients at the other five clinics due for CCS. Data on CCS completed were collected from patient charts every two to four weeks for a period of five months. The primary outcome examined was CCS uptake at the primary site, compared with uptake in a comparison group of patients from 2019. Following the interventions, 16.42% of the intervention group completed CCS, while only 11.36% of the comparison group did so; the increase was statistically significant X2 (1, N = 1109) = 5.96, p < .05. In addition, CCS completions were collected following each intervention; McNemar’s test was conducted and found a significant increase in CCS after the second email (X2 = 25.04, df = 1, N = 475, p = .000) and the phone call intervention (X2 = 36.03, df = 1, N = 475, p = .000). Findings from this project will be used to recommend continued annual phone call and email interventions at all six clinics.

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Recommended Citation

McLean, Christina E., "Education Combined with Reminder Strategies to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Rates" (2021). Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports. 172.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/ebpr/172