The utilization of Pap tests among different female medical personnel: a nationwide study in Taiwan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to clarify the conditions under which female medical personnel receive Pap tests and the influencing factors associated with not receiving Pap tests. METHODS: Data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan were analyzed. There were a total of 142,123 subjects: 5,196 physicians, 13,366 pharmacists, and 123,561 nurses. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 57.7% had received a Pap test in 2008-2010. Pap-test rates were highest for pharmacists (58.1%) and nurses (58.0%) and lowest for physicians (48.6%). After adjustment for age, having visited an obstetrics/gynecology clinic, gynecological disease, chronic disease, major illnesses, occupational diseases/injuries, and cancer, subjects were less likely to have received a Pap test if they were older, had visited an obstetric/gynecological clinic, or had gynecological diseases or major illnesses. Pharmacists and nurses who had occupational diseases/injuries and chronic diseases and nurses who had had cancer were less likely to have received a Pap test. CONCLUSION: Hopefully, by highlighting the factors associated with lower likelihood of receiving Pap tests, the study findings will increase self-awareness among female medical personnel, improving their rate of Pap-test participation.