Self-reported desire to improve colposcopic impressions

Abstract 

Background: Women who participate in cervical cancer screening programs must have access to high quality colposcopy services when their cytology test are abnormal. The purpose of this project is to evaluate colposcopic services currently available in New Hampshire and whether colposcopy providers are willing to network to maintain and improve their colposcopic pattern recognition skills in order to improve their colposcopic correlations. Methods: A survey was mailed to 1314 providers throughout New Hampshire. The survey ascertained the extent of current colposcopic services in New Hampshire through practitioner and practice demographics, the cervical procedures performed, the self-reported colposcopy skill level, and the self-reported quality of past colposcopic education. It also measured interest in networking with others to improve their colposcopic pattern recognition skills. Results: The survey response rate was 62%. 145 of the 810 respondents (18%) are currently performing colposcopies, indicating a statewide potential colposcopy accommodation rate of 3.5 to 7 women per month per colposcopist. 57% of the physician assistants, 59% of the family physicians, 75% of the gynecologists and 100% of the nurse practitioners were interested in enhancing their colposcopic pattern recognition skills by networking through quarterly meetings. Conclusions: The crude accommodation rate for colposcopy appears sufficient for the women of New Hampshire although the geographic distribution of the colposcopists is unknown. A majority of the colposcopists were interested in networking to improve their colposcopic pattern recognition skills, which could improve patient care.