Thomas R. Everett|Andrew Bryant|Michelle Griffin|Pierre Martin?Hirsch|Carol Forbes|Ruth Jepson
Interventions targeted at women to encourage the uptake of cervical screening
Addenbrooke's Hospital|Newcastle University|Addenbrooke's Hospital|Royal Preston Hospital|University of York|Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy
background worldwide cervical cancer second common cancer women increasing uptake screening alongside increasing informed choice great importance controlling disease prevention early detection objectives assess effectiveness interventions aimed women increase uptake including informed uptake cervical cancer screening search methods searched cochrane gynaecological cancer group trials register cochrane central register controlled trials central issue 1 2009 medline embase lilacs databases march 2009 also searched registers clinical trials abstracts scientific meetings reference lists included studies contacted experts field selection criteria randomised controlled trials rcts interventions increase uptakeinformed uptake cervical cancer screening data collection analysis two review authors independently abstracted data assessed risk bias possible data synthesised metaanalysis main results thirtyeight trials met inclusion criteria trials assessed effectiveness invitational educational interventions counselling risk factor assessment procedural interventions heterogeneity trials limited statistical pooling data overall however invitations appear effective methods increasing uptake addition limited evidence support use educational materials secondary outcomes including cost data incompletely documented evidence limited trials moderate risk bias informed uptake cervical screening reported trials authors conclusions evidence support use invitation letters increase uptake cervical screening limited evidence support educational interventions unclear format effective majority studies developed countries relevance developing countries unclear