Dana M. Chase|Kathryn Osann|Nicole Sepina|Lari Wenzel|Krishnansu S. Tewari
The Challenge of Follow-Up in a Low-Income Colposcopy Clinic
University of California, Irvine Medical Center|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine|University of California, Irvine Medical Center
study aimed identify sociodemographic diseasespecific factors associated followup innercity multiethnic colposcopy clinicall charts patients referred colposcopy clinic abnormal cervical cytology andor highrisk human papillomavirus infections university california irvine colposcopy clinic santa ana november 2006 december 2007 reviewed compliance defined least 1 followup evaluation within 3 14 months initial colposcopy appointment determine compliance following factors evaluated multivariate analysis race age spoken language insurance status annual income marital status referral cytology histology pregnancy statusamong 1046 scheduled appointments 50 attended patients 458 minimum 14 months followup included mean sd age patients 310 107 years 58 white 55 spoke spanish total 248 patients 54 appropriately timed repeat testing whereas 210 46 failed return within 14 months univariate analysis women referred outside clinic single younger 40 years selfpay governmentfunded insurance likely noncompliant although statistically significant multivariate analysis referral outside clinic selfpay governmentfunded insurance spanishspeaking single marital status significantly associated noncompliance although cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 3 associated noncompliance 45 women cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 3 still comply recommendationsthis innercity clinic perhaps successful maintaining compliance women highest risk cervical cancer triage originates within clinic patient married englishspeaking privately insured however reasons patients highest risk noncompliance clinic may need better characterized