The Papanicolaou Test: Its utility and efficacy in cancer detection
Judy Hartikainen
Registered Nurse, Oncology and Palliative Care Ward, Western Hospital, Melbourne VIC
PP: 045 - 049
Abstract
The Papanicolaou (PAP) test is one of the simplest tests in the detection of cancer. This article addresses the concerns/fears women have surrounding the PAP test and why it is not more widely used.
There are many problems associated with a Papanicolaou (PAP) test that is more commonly referred to as either a Pap test or Pap smear. On reviewing the literature, it was discovered that there are many issues surrounding the Pap smear. A question/answer or statement/response method has been taken to explore the selected different issues more thoroughly.
This review will commence with providing a definition of what a Pap smear actually is and the function it serves and then the effectiveness of the test is examined. That it is effective is not questioned, but the fallibility of the test is.
Keywords
cervical cancer; PAP test; education; risk factors
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