Chun R. Chao, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA
Jessica Chubak, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
Elisabeth F. Beaber, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Public Health Sciences Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
Aruna Kamineni, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
Connie Mao, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Michael J. Silverberg, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
Jasmin A. Tiro, Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
Celette Skinner, Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
Michael Garcia, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Public Health Sciences Division, Seattle, Washington, USA
Douglas A. Corley, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA.
Rachel L. Winer, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA
Tina Raine-Bennett, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA,Medicines360, San Francisco, California, USA
Sarah Feldman, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Cosette M. Wheeler, Center for HPV Prevention, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Potential care gaps in the cervical cancer screening process among women diagnosed with cervical cancer in an era with increased human papillomavirus (HPV) testing have not been extensively evaluated.

METHODS: Women diagnosed with cervical cancer between ages 21 and 65 at four study sites between 2010 and 2014 were included. Screening histories were ascertained from 0.5 to 4 years prior to cervical cancer diagnosis. We identified potential care gaps in the screening history for each woman and classified them into one of three mutually exclusive types: lack of a screening test, screening test failure, and diagnostic/treatment care gap. Distributions of care gaps were tabulated by stage, histology, and study site. Multivariable nominal logistic regression was used to examine the associations between demographic and cancer characteristics and type of care gap.

RESULTS: Of 499 women evaluated, 46% lacked a screening test in the time window examined, 31% experienced a screening test failure, and 22% experienced a diagnostic/treatment care gap. More than half of the women with advanced cancer and squamous cell carcinoma lacked a screening test compared to 31% and 24% of women with localized cancer and adenocarcinoma, respectively. Women aged 21-29 at diagnosis were more likely to experience screening test failure and diagnostic/treatment care gap, while those aged 50-65 were more likely to lack a screening test, compared to women aged 30-39.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a continuing need to develop interventions targeting unscreened and under-screened women and improve detection and diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in women undergoing cervical cancer screening and diagnostic follow-up.

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