General Practitioners knowledge, views and practices regarding cervical cancer screening in Australia. CHERE Working Paper 2010/6

Objective General practitioners (GPs) are the main providers of cervical screening in Australia and are crucial to the successful implementation of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP). This study assesses the views of GPs about the value of the Pap smear tests, their knowledge of the current screening policy, awareness of new technologies and concerns of litigation. Design A postal survey was conducted of a random sample of GPs in New South Wales, Australia. Results GPs are generally supportive of NCSP guidelines, specifically 88.5% now agree with the recommended 2 year screening interval. However, half believe the age range should be enlarged to include both older and younger patients. There are notable differences in knowledge and views between male and female GPs. Female GPs tend to support extending the age range and are more familiar with new technologies, whilst male GPs are more concerned about the legal implications of over and under-screening patients. Conclusions While the NCSP is generally well supported by GPs, there are differences in the knowledge and views of male and female GPs. This information provides a contemporary baseline from which to optimise the effectiveness of GPs as providers of cervical screening, improve the rate of appropriate utilisation and successfully implement any future changes to the national screening guidelines.