Pap Smear Test Strategy - Coursework Example

University Name Pap smear Test Strategy Campaign to promote Pap tests Type your name here 9/1/2008 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction to the Pap smear test 3 Promotion of the test towards a specific group 4 Rationale for the group 5 Achievements of the Campaign 6 Resources for the implementation of the campaign 7 Implementation of the Campaign 7 Marketing of the Campaign 8 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction to the Pap smear test The Papanicolaou test is also called the Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test. It is a medical testing method. Aurel Babeş and Georgios Papanikolaou developed this method. Initially, the prime purpose of the method was to pre-cancerous and cancerous processes taking place in the ecto-cervix (O’Dowd & Philipp, 1994). The test was also able to detect infections and abnormalities in the endo-cervix and endo-metrium. The test tries to detect irregularities in the cells of the cervix of a woman. The cervix is the lower part of the womb of a woman that opens into the birth canal. It is possible to tell with the Pap test whether a woman has an infection, abnormal or unhealthy cervical cell, or cervical cancer (Raffle et al., 2003). The procedure of the test is simple. The physician/ clinician obtain the sample of the cells from the cervix with the help of a wooden scraper and/or a small cervical brush. He then places the obtained sample on a glass slide, preserves it with a fixative, and sends it to the laboratory for examination. The results of the tests could be normal, abnormal, low grade and high grade. Normal results mean that the sample cells were of normal appearance and the doctor recommends a normal smear test after the passage of another two years. An abnormal result means that there is some sort of irregularity in the cervical cells. The cells had turned over rapidly and regenerated and during the process, they have become abnormal or changed. There could be various reasons for the changes in cells; they could be infection, inflammation, or pre-cancerous changes. The doctors classify the changes in the cervical cell according to the surface of the cell. Dysplasia is a term that is used to describe these changes. Sometimes, the abnormalities of the cervical cells are due to the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus infects the surface cells of the area constituting the cervix, birth canal, and the vulva in this infection. The virus may also cause visible warts. The virus disappears itself in most women. However, a repeat smear test is a recommendation for monitoring such abnormalities in the cells. This is a common virus among women aged between 20 to 30, and it could be sexually transmitted. Some forms of the HPV virus that may lead to cancer. If the test results lie in the high grade, this means that the cell are high grade squamous intraepithelial (HSIL). These changes includes moderate to severe dysplasia (CIN 2 + 3).  These irregularities are pre-cancerous and they require more investigation and treatment, usually colposcopy and removal of the abnormal area on the cervix. Treatment on the right time can stop the progress towards cervical cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is the cancer of cervix (National Cancer institute, 2008). Treatment for low grade and high-grade changes varies. For low-grade changes, if the result is of a woman under 30 years of age, the doctor advises the woman to repeat the tests within 12 months. For women with over 30 years of age and with low grade results, the doctor advises them to retake the test within 6-12 months. Similarly, women whose tests lie in the high grade results category, thy should refer to a gynecologist for colposcopy and for the removal of the changes. High grade treatments also include Laser therapy, electro-coagulation, loop excision (Koutsky, Ault, & Wheeler, 2002). Promotion of the test towards a specific group Women should be open and direct about Pap tests and their regularity. It is the decision of a clinician about having a Pap test. Current generic timelines recommend women to take Pap smear tests at least once every three years beginning from three year later they first had sexual intercourse but the first test should not be later then the age of 21. Experts recommend women to undergo smear testing three year after the start of sexual activity to avoid overtreatment for common, and temporary irregularities. It is not hazardous to wait for three years, because the rate of development of cervical cancer is slow. The cancer is extremely rare in women under the age of 25. Women with age between 65 to 70 and have had at least three normal Pap tests with no abnormal results in any of them may decide after coordinating with their clinician to stop having Pap tests. The group of women who should have a Pap smear test regularly at the advice of their doctors are all sexually active women above the age of 35. However, this does not suggest them to have a yearly exam. Doctors say that studies suggest that two or three Pap smears starting from the age of 35 are equally beneficial in the detection of cancer to that of a yearly exam. Therefore, it is advisable for women above 35 years of age to take Pap tests every three to five years. Studies suggest that these procedures reduce cervical cancer rates by 40 to 55 percent (Bell, 2008). Rationale for the group The tendency of Cervical cancer suggests that it develops in midlife. Studies suggest that 50 percent of the women diagnosed with the cancer are between the age of 35 to 55 years old and 20 percent of them are older than 65 (American Cancer Society, 2008 statistic). Moreover, the initial condition of the cancer or pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix have no symptoms. Therefore, as studies suggest women 35 years and above are most prone to cervical cancer. Moreover, ignorance, time and other problems lead to ignorance on the issue, as they do not take regular tests since most of these women are married and are busy homemakers or working women that have to manage work and family both. Consequently, they develop cervical cancer more. That is why; this campaign would target women 35 years and above (Cervical Risk assessment, 2008). As most doctors, clinicians, physicians, would agree that the biggest risk for cervical cancer is not having a Pap test every two years. Certain types of human pailloma virus (HPV) cause cell changes that eventually lead to cervical cancer. Other risk factors that augment the risk of cervical cancer are increasing age, smoking, long term use of oral contraceptives, and lower levels of immunity. Age is among the most important risk factors and 35 year and older women are most prone to develop cervical cancer (Pap tests and older women, 2008). Certain changes in cells called mutation in the structure and function of the DNA can make normal cells cancerous. This cancer is most common among women over the age of 40 that is why they are the target group for our campaign. Moreover, other factors include family history of cervical cancer and not having timely tests is also a common reason for the development of cervical cancer (Thant, 2007). Achievements of the Campaign Cervical cancer has high rates of prevention by taking regular Pap tests. However, young women neglect it to have this life saving test. Approximately 34% of women in their early 20s do not take this test and the percentage has increased by 12 percent during the last six years (BC cancer agency, 2008). The campaign would target women ranging from the ages of 30-35 and above because as discussed earlier the age factor plays a very important part in the development of cervical cancer and Pap tests are phenomenal in the prevention of the cancer at the right age. The purpose of the campaign is to boost the participation rates among this age group of women to take Pap smear tests at regular intervals. The promotion of Pap tests is necessary because these tests could result in the prevention of cancer by detecting it before it has changed into cancer. Therefore, the campaigns aims to achieve the awareness among women that regular Pap tests are necessary. Moreover, the campaign would also result in the promotion of dialogue regarding cervical cancer and the method that could prevent it. Resources for the implementation of the campaign The campaign would use innovation and creativity to attract as much attention as possible. We would ask a question from women lying between age of 30-35 and above regarding their crevice, and if their answer is that they do not know about its health, which in most cases would be the answer we would suggest them to have a Pap Smear test. Other resources that we would use would be ads in the forms of posters, pamphlets, booklets for physicians, radio, internet, and TV ads. All of these are most common mediums of communication and they would prove to be extremely effective in the promotion of the campaign. Implementation of the Campaign The campaign would utilize all mediums for spreading the awareness about Pap tests, their purpose and the dangers of not having a Pap test. We would install poster promoting regular Pap tests in washrooms, bars, and night clubs so that women among age group of 30-35 and above could understand the risk they are in. We would circulate two pamphlets, one would promote awareness about the protection with regular Pap tests. The pamphlet would explain that Pap tests at regular time intervals could help in the prevention of cervical cancer. The second pamphlet would explain cervical cancer, its causes, and prevention techniques. Another implementation strategy would include TV, radio, and internet ads promoting Pap tests. This is the most important medium that women with 30 and above ages are most likely to come across. Women in this age group could be a bit anti-social so they are most likely not to come across the posters in public washrooms, bars, etc. however, it is definite that they would encounter interesting and innovative TV and radio ads explaining cervical cancer and its prevention methods. Marketing of the Campaign The posters and the ads themselves would carry out the marketing of the campaign. There would be a name tag at the bottom of the poster and credentials at the end of the ads that would market the campaign and the subject matter would steer definite response. In order to circulate the importance of the issue, we would include surveys and results from various sources regarding cervical cancers, its affects, and the impact of Pap smear tests. Conclusion Cervical cancer is a fatal disease and since it does not have any preliminary symptoms before it has developed fully, therefore, such a campaign promoting its testing strategy is necessary. This campaign would aware women regarding the tests and how it could help them in preventing cervical cancer. The ignorance regarding this cancer is high and age is one of the most important factors for its development. Moreover, it does not require any special conditions to develop that are why regular tests are necessary to ensure that it is not in its preliminary stages. The campaign would aware women to take Pap smear tests regularly, because this is the only method that could save them from cervical cancer. References O'Dowd MJ, Philipp EE. The History of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. London: Parthenon Publishing Group; 1994: 547 Raffle AE, Alden B, Quinn M, Babb PJ, Brett MT (2003). "Outcomes of screening to prevent cancer: analysis of cumulative incidence of cervical abnormality and modelling of cases and deaths prevented". BMJ 326 (7395): 901 National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 3.20, Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers. Retrieved on August 31, 2008 from Bell, Sharon A. "When Should You Have A Pap Test?." When Should You Have A Pap Test?. 27 May. 2008. EzineArticles.com. 31 Aug 2008 Koutsky LA, Ault KA, Wheeler CM, et al. A controlled trial of a human papillomavirus type 16 vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine 2002; 347(21):1645–1651. American Cancer Society. Test Results 2008. Retrieved on August 31, 2008 from Risk Assessments (2008). Cervical Risk Assessment. Retrieved on August 31, 2008 from Pap tests and older women (2006). Pap screen Victoria. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from < http://www.papscreen.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=b8> Myo Thant (2007). What Causes Cervical Cancer? Caring 4 Cancer. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from < http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cervical/basics/what-causes-cervical-cancer.htm> BC cancer agency. Women in their 20’s not getting regular Pap tests. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from < http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/ABCCA/NewsCentre/NewsArchive/2007/paptests.htm > Read More