Interventions to Encourage the Uptake of Cervical Screening

Comment: The certainty of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment in almost half of the studies).

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 69 studies with a total of 257 899 participants. Overall, invitations appeared to be effective methods of increasing uptake (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.96; 24 trials, n=141 391). Personalised invitations and letters with a fixed appointment to attend were more successful than standard invitations. In addition, there was limited evidence to support the use of educational materials (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.54; 13 trials, n=63 415).

Another Cochrane review [Abstract] 2 assessed the effect of automated telephone communication systems (ATCS) on cervical cancer screening. ATCS Plus (ATCS with additional functions such as access to an expert to request advice) interventions slightly increased cervical cancer screening compared with usual care (45 303 versus 30 229 (moderate certainty).

References

• Staley H, Shiraz A, Shreeve N et al. Interventions targeted at women to encourage the uptake of cervical screening. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021;(9):CD002834. [PubMed]
• Posadzki P, Mastellos N, Ryan R et al. Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long-term conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;(12):CD009921. [PubMed]