Costs of Outreach Intervention for Women with Abnormal Pap Smears
Author Information
Author(s): Wagner Todd H, Engelstad Linda P, McPhee Stephen J, Pasick Rena J
Primary Institution: Alameda County Medical Center
Hypothesis
Does a tailored outreach intervention improve follow-up rates among low-income women with abnormal Pap smears compared to usual care?
Conclusion
Outreach workers were more effective than usual care at increasing follow-up rates for women with abnormal Pap smears.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention increased the rate of 6-month follow-up by 29 percentage points.
- The cost per follow-up for the most severe abnormality was $681.
- 38% of women receiving usual care had follow-up within 6 months after the Pap smear.
- Women with high-grade abnormalities had the highest follow-up rates after the intervention.
Takeaway
This study shows that having community health workers help women with abnormal Pap tests can make them more likely to get the follow-up care they need.
Methodology
Randomized controlled trial comparing a tailored outreach intervention plus usual care to usual care alone for women with abnormal Pap smears.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias was minimized by randomization, but the lack of consent may introduce other biases.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a single health care institution, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were low-income, racially and ethnically diverse women with abnormal Pap smears, primarily aged 18-29.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, $787–$1367
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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