Guidelines for Cervical Screening in New ZealandIncorporating the Management of Women with Abnormal Cervical Smears
Date of publication (online): October 2008
Summary of publication
The Guidelines for Cervical Screening in New Zealand incorporate results of an extensive review of evidence together with expert advice from a wide range of medical practitioners, epidemiologists and consumer representatives.
They replace the 1999 Guidelines for the management of women with abnormal cervical smears, and incorporate key National Cervical Screening Programme policies such as recommendations as to the age to start screening, how often to screen and when to stop.
Major changes in the guidelines include:
- the recall period for ‘low-grade’ abnormalities
- more detailed guidance regarding colposcopy and follow-up care
- an expanded section for management of women with special clinical circumstances
- the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing (although such testing will not be fully integrated into the guidelines until July 2009).
The introduction of these guidelines has been planned to coincide with the go-live date of the new National Cervical Screening Programme Register. This essential database stores the screening histories (cervical smears, colposcopy, histology and HPV results) of women who participate in the Programme, facilitating recall of women and monitoring of Programme performance.
The development and revision of the guidelines is an ongoing process that incorporates new evidence as this becomes available. The National Cervical Screening Programme will continue to monitor and evaluate the changes being implemented and will introduce further updates as and when required.
In this regard we will be specifically examining new evidence on the use of HPV testing, in particular with respect to the management of women with glandular lesions.
Training presentations
These PowerPoint presentations are designed to assist with training on the key changes in the guidelines and are for use at any relevant upcoming training sessions.These presentations have a slightly different focus, one aimed at a smear-taker audience, the other for colposcopists. Note that the presentations contain slide notes with additional explanation (View/notes pages in the PowerPoint toolbar).
Feedback
We encourage your feedback on the use of these guidelines. Please send any comments or queries to Anna Maxwell ph. (09) 580 9161 anna_maxwell@moh.govt.nz or Dr Hazel Lewis hazel_lewis@moh.govt.nz.
Related information
National Screening Unit |
Publishing information
Date of publication (hard copy): October 2008
ISBN numbers: 978-0-478-31812-8 (Print), 978-0-478-31813-5 (Online)
HP number: 4656
Citation: Ministry of Health. 2008. Guidelines for Cervical Screening in New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry of Health. |
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