Pap Smear

The Program seeks to integrate all elements of the cervical screening process. In particular, it aims to:

• demonstrate an increase in the percentage of eligible women who have ever been screened;
• establish more reliable and accessible services for taking, interpreting and reporting Pap tests;
• improve management of screen detected abnormalities; and
• monitor and evaluate these preventive efforts.

The Program includes: implementation and monitoring of adherence to a nationally agreed screening policy; establishment of Pap test registers in Qld and development and enhancement of other quality management strategies across the screening pathway.

The screening pathway involves the following steps:

• encouraging all eligible women to enter and remain in the screening program;
• ensuring optimal quality of Pap smears by adequate training of Pap smear takers;
• ensuring optimal quality of Pap smear reading through a quality assurance program for laboratories;
• ensuring appropriate follow up of abnormal Pap smears through management guidelines;
• providing an efficient system for notifying results to women by Pap smear providers;
• providing recall and reminder systems to ensure adequate follow up of women with screen-detected abnormalities; and
• maintaining women’s participation in the program by encouraging providers to set-up reminder systems, and developing cervical cytology registers and national cancer data.