Increasing Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Through Text Messaging
Abstract
Problem: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common cancers affecting women. Incidence of CC is significantly reduced through regular and timely cervical cancer screening (CCS). In the US, rates of overdue CCS increased from 14% in 2005 to 26.1% in 2021. A nurse practitioner (NP)-owned primary care clinic in the Mid-Atlantic experienced inadequate tracking and timely uptake of CCS. Baseline data showed 17.6% of 21–29-year-olds and 22.1% of 30–65-year-olds were overdue for CCS with only 12.7% having a documented CCS in the electronic health record (EHR). This sub-optimal tracking and detection increases opportunities for patients to miss CCS. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to increase CCS uptake among clinic patients through text message invitations to schedule an appointment or obtain a referral. Methods: A new policy standardizing identification, contact, and tracking of soon-due and overdue CCS patients was created. The new workflow sent two text message reminders to patients 21-65 years old who were soon-due or overdue for CCS. Participants were determined by EHR report to include age, sex, history of hysterectomy, and date of last pap smear. Results: 46 patients participated in the project. Of the text messages sent, 32.6% (n=15) responded. 33.3% (n=5) of respondents scheduled their CCS and of those, 60% (n=3) completed it during implementation. 33.3% (n=5) reported an up-to-date CCS. Post-intervention rates of overdue CCS were 13.7% for 21–29-year-olds and 14.5% for 30–65-year-olds, a 3% and 7% improvement. Overall, an 85.8% CCS compliance rate was seen post-intervention. Conclusions: Findings suggest the use of text messaging reminders is a low cost, low barrier way to increase uptake of CCS in this setting. Addressing barriers and organizational processes may help increase patient response to text messaging and increase timely uptake of CCS.Identifier to cite or link to this item
http://hdl.handle.net/10713/22873Collections
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