Primary care factors associated with cervical screening coverage in England

Background The National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme was established to decrease the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in England. Methods To identify socioeconomic and general practice factors associated with cervical screening coverage in England, a national cross-sectional study was conducted using data on 26 497 476 female patients registered with 7970 practices in 152 English primary care trusts (PCTs). The 200809 data on cervical screening coverage rates from the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) database were used with data on QOF indicators, staffing levels and socioeconomic status. Results The mean cervical screening coverage rate was 78.5 at the PCT level and 83.5 at the practice level. At both levels, cervical screening coverage was significantly negatively associated with the index of multiple deprivation score, percentage of female patients aged 2549 years and percentage of ethnic minority patients. Also, at the practice level, the percentage of female patients aged 5064 years, overall QOF score and records and information score were significantly positively associated with cervical screening coverage. Conclusions Cervical screening coverage was significantly lower in PCTs and practices serving higher percentages of younger-aged women, non-Caucasian individuals and those living in socioeconomic deprivation. It is therefore important to adopt strategies to improve cervical screening coverage in these groups.