A125
Patient preferences for colposcopy appointments
Dawn Swancutt1, Sheila Greenfield1, Sue Wilson1, Terry Flynn2, Joanna Coast1, David Luesley3
1University of Birmingham, UK, 2University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 3Pan Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Birmingham, UK
Background
The anxiety that women feel when attending a colposcopy appointment is well documented. One way to reduce anxiety might be to address womens concerns and accommodate their preferences; an area of research that has received relatively little attention from the patients viewpoint. This study aimed to identify and quantify womens preferences for aspects of their colposcopy appointments.
Method
A patient preference questionnaire (best-worst scaling discrete choice experiment) was constructed using factors (attributes) identified from an earlier, qualitative, study. It presented hypothetical appointments described by positive and negative combinations of attributes, which included: gender of the colposcopist, viewing the procedure on a monitor, staff attitude, waiting time, information provision and feeling rushed during the appointment. The questionnaire was administered to women attending follow-up appointments at two West Midlands colposcopy clinics.
Result
One hundred and twenty four questionnaires were completed (response rate: 70%). The most valued factor was good staff attitude, closely followed by not feeling rushed during their appointment. All factors identified in the qualitative study were statistically significant predictors of womens choices. In terms of possible service improvements, the provision of additional information was least valued, even though knowledge levels regarding the meaning of the appointment were poor. There was no statistical association between clinic attended and preferences, even though clinic practice varied.
Conclusion
Women still understand little about pre-cancer, yet value the provision of additional information least, relative to other service aspects. This study illustrated that colposcopy patients highly value a positive staff attitude; thoughtfulness, and staff taking time to put them at ease. Attention to the feelings and concerns of women positively affects their experience of the service and was more important to these patients than any other aspect of their appointment identified by this study.
