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Abstract |
Current research has confirmed that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for cervical cancer. The objective of this pilot study was to observe if women who smoked and were referred to the colposcopy department at Christchurch Women?s Hospital, required more follow up visits, treatments and re-referrals compared to non-smokers. New patients (n=494) who attended at the Christchurch Women?s Hospital colposcopy department in 2001 had their data observed for a six year period. The results identified that women who smoked were three times more likely to need a third follow up visit and twice more likely to need further treatments to remove abnormalities when compared to non-smokers. This pilot study also identified that 71% of Maori women attending the clinic were smokers compared to 44% of non-Maori women. The results are being used to highlight to health professionals that treatment has a greater chance of success if patients cease smoking. The results have also supported the maintenance and development of the smoking cessation clinic for colposcopy patients at Christchurch Women's Hospital where the link to cervical abnormalities and smoking is explained and behaviour modification is offered. We also found that Maori women were poor attendees for colposcopy when compared to non-Maori and these results identified a need for further research and development of strategies to improve attendance. |
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