Colposcopy audit for improving quality of service in areas with a high incidence of cervical cancer
Received 12 June 2009; received in revised form 25 July 2009; accepted 14 September 2009. published online 05 November 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To audit routine colposcopy performance using 8 standard requirements of the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP).
Methods
Records of women who underwent colposcopy for abnormal cervical cytology between January and December 2008 at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, were reviewed.
Results
The standard requirements were not achieved in 2 practices: (1) the proportion of women who had recordings of visibility of the transformation zone (96.6%) did not achieve the NHSCSP requirement of 100%; and (2) the rate of excisional biopsy (87.8%) was lower than the 95% minimum required.
Conclusion
Colposcopic performance at Chiang Mai University Hospital was generally favorable. However, re-audit is necessary to ensure that unmet standards of performance are improved and achieved standards are maintained.
ABSTRACT