Cervical sample-taking in the primary health service

Abstract

In Norway, approximately 360000 cervical screening samples were taken in 2020, of which 11000 were registered as inadequate. We therefore wished to investigate doctors' knowledge of cervical sample-taking in the primary health service. An anonymous survey on cervical sample-taking was sent by email to around 4700 members of the Norwegian College of General Practice in September 2021. Of the 1039 doctors who responded to the survey, 820 (79%) reported that they always indicate the reason for taking the sample in the requisition form, and 898 (86%) reported that they avoid taking a sample during menstruation. Only one in three doctors (343) correctly indicated the location of the squamocolumnar junction in postmenopausal women. In response to a question aimed at users of the ThinPrep method, which is particularly sensitive to sampling errors, 426 out of 697 (61%) answered that they either avoid using a lubricant or use a water-based lubricant, while only 35% of the doctors responded that they stop taking the sample if bleeding occurs. The results show that although many doctors have satisfactory knowledge, a continuous focus on cervical sample-taking is essential. Correct sampling and knowledge of anatomical factors in postmenopausal women may be significant for reducing the number of inadequate samples.