Cervical Cancer Screening of Health Personnel in Roi-Et Hospital
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer of Thai women. Over 3,000 Thai women died from this cancer. The death rate was 11.3-29.4 per 100,000 women. All women, age over 30 years old or had sexual intercourse should have cervical cancer screening once a year. Over 50% of cervical cancer patient never had cervical cancer screening. There is no study of cancer screening in health personnel in Thailand.
Objective: To determine the rate of cervical cancer screening of health personnel in Roi-et Hospital and the reasons for obtaining and not obtaining cervical cancer screening.
Methods: Descriptive study was conducted in female health personnel of Roi-et Hospital by using open- & close-end questionnaires. Ten female health personnels were randomly selected for in-depth interview. The data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results : The women health personnels 542 subjects were included. Mean age was 34.2 years, range 18- 70 years. Most of participants were age between 21 - 50 years old (94%). The rate of overall cervical cancer screening was 44.8%, nurses 44.2%, nurse’s aids 44.3%, clerk 47.9% and other professions 47.1% respectively. The two most important reasons for having cancer screening were their knowledge that early stage detected cancer can be cured, 54.3%, and incorporation the cervical cancer screening in the annual health checkup program, 32.4%. The two most common reasons for not having cancer screening were shyness, 46.5%, busy and inconvenience, 43.2%. From in-depth interview, the participants suggested that cervical cancer screening should be conducted by female doctor, on holiday and the results must be kept confidentially.
Conclusion : The prevalence of cervical cancer screening in health personnel’s at Roi-et Hospital was 44.8% No difference of prevalence between each profession. The prevalence rate of screening may be increased if the service adjusted properly according to their context.
Keywords: Cervical cancer screening, Health personnel
