Examining the Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Histories of NM Women Diagnosed with Invasive and In-Situ Cervical Cancer

Examining the Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Histories of New Mexico Women Diagnosed with Invasive and In-Situ Cervical Cancer - SIP 11-01

Principal Investigators: Jan Gaylord, Ph.D., M.S.W. and Carla Herman, M.D., M.P.H.; UNM HSC Cancer Research Treatment Center
Start and End Dates: September 2001 – September 2004
Source of Funding: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This three-year study is being conducted in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health (NM DOH) Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCP). The project is sponsored through the UNM Prevention Research Center (PRC), and the investigators are affiliated with another UNM Health Sciences Center division. The purpose of this study is to examine the screening, diagnostic and treatment histories of New Mexico women diagnosed with pre-invasive and invasive cervical cancer, to examine possible sociocultural risk and protective factors, and to identify screening and treatment system weaknesses in New Mexico.

The focus of this project was established after a previously-funded program was reviewed in early 2002. A revised research plan and budget which better served the needs of BCCP were approved in April 2002. The original focus was to identify multilevel factors--environmental, socio-cultural and provider system--that contributed to poor follow-up of abnormal (Pap) tests. Women diagnosed with invasive and in situ cervical cancer in New Mexico between 1999 and 2002 were asked to participate in a telephone survey to determine what factors affected the timely diagnosis and/or treatment of their cancer. These findings will be valuable to the BCCP and state providers because it will identify weaknesses in cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment systems, and an understanding of why NM women develop cervical cancer.

After obtaining human subjects review committee approval for the project, the telephone survey instrument developed specifically for this project was pilot tested in February of 2003. Study information and invitations were mailed to all eligible women with current contact information. Data collection was completed between March and November of 2003. During the final year, the investigators will conduct data analysis, interpretation and reporting, which will include preparing written reports for the CDC and articles to submit for peer-reviewed journal publication. They also will present the findings of this study at the Chronic Disease Prevention Council meeting.

For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Carla J. Herman, (505) 272-6082 or cherman@salud.unm.edu.