BMJ 1994;309:476-77 (13 August)

Letters

Cervical smear uptake rates

EDITOR, - F Azeem Majeed and colleagues highlighted substantial variations in cervical smear uptake rates between practices in Merton, Sutton, and Wandsworth Family Health Services Authority.1

Our analysis of cervical smear uptake rates in practices in the City and East London Family Health Services Authority area shows very similar results. In the 5.5 years preceding 30 June 1993, 66% of women in City and East London had a cervical smear, compared with 64% in Merton, Sutton, and Wandsworth for 5.5 years preceding 31 March 1992. Our data also show clear "target heaping": 40% of practices achieved the 50% target, 31% achieved the 80% target, and 29% failed to reach a target (the figures for Merton, Sutton, and Wandsworth were 47%, 22%, and 31%, respectively).

The similarity in the figures for City and East London and those for Merton, Sutton, and Wandsworth are particularly interesting given the considerable differences between the . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Using patient and general practice characteristics to explain variations in cervical smear uptake rates
F A Majeed, D G Cook, H R Anderson, S Hilton, S Bunn, and C Stones
BMJ 1994 308: 1272-1276. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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