TY - JOUR
T1 - Variation in the cervical cancer screening compliance among women with disability
AU - Chen, Long Sheng
AU - Chou, Yiing Jenq
AU - Tsay, Jen Huoy
AU - Lee, Cheng Hua
AU - Chou, Pesus
AU - Huang, Nicole
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Objective: To investigate the relationship between the level of disability and regular Pap smear testing among women in Taiwan and explore how this relationship may vary with the various levels of physician availability. Methods: This population-based cohort study followed a total of 5,469,581 women from Taiwan, who were 30 years old or older in 2001 and covered the period January 2001 to December 2003. Of the total study population, 184,701 individuals were women with disability. Gynecologist-obstetrician/general practitioner to female population ratio was used as an indicator of physician availability. Multiple logistical regression models were used. Results: After adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, racial group, residence area and physician availability, women with severe disability (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.39) were the least likely to undergo Pap smear testing. Women with moderate disability (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.60) and mild disability (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.86, 0.89) were also significantly less likely to undergo a routine test than women without disability. Women residing in the areas with the greatest physician availability (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.93, 0.94) were significantly less likely to undergo a Pap test than those in the areas with the lowest level of resource availability. The disparity in routine screening between women with and without disability remained across the different levels of physician availability. Conclusions: In Taiwan, women with disability were found to be at higher risk of lower compliance than women without disability. The gap between women with and without disability persisted across different levels of physician availability.
AB - Objective: To investigate the relationship between the level of disability and regular Pap smear testing among women in Taiwan and explore how this relationship may vary with the various levels of physician availability. Methods: This population-based cohort study followed a total of 5,469,581 women from Taiwan, who were 30 years old or older in 2001 and covered the period January 2001 to December 2003. Of the total study population, 184,701 individuals were women with disability. Gynecologist-obstetrician/general practitioner to female population ratio was used as an indicator of physician availability. Multiple logistical regression models were used. Results: After adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, racial group, residence area and physician availability, women with severe disability (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.39) were the least likely to undergo Pap smear testing. Women with moderate disability (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.60) and mild disability (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.86, 0.89) were also significantly less likely to undergo a routine test than women without disability. Women residing in the areas with the greatest physician availability (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.93, 0.94) were significantly less likely to undergo a Pap test than those in the areas with the lowest level of resource availability. The disparity in routine screening between women with and without disability remained across the different levels of physician availability. Conclusions: In Taiwan, women with disability were found to be at higher risk of lower compliance than women without disability. The gap between women with and without disability persisted across different levels of physician availability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650067308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1258/jms.2009.008061
DO - 10.1258/jms.2009.008061
M3 - Article
C2 - 19564521
AN - SCOPUS:67650067308
SN - 0969-1413
VL - 16
SP - 85
EP - 90
JO - Journal of Medical Screening
JF - Journal of Medical Screening
IS - 2
ER -