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

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.