Health Outcomes | Cervical Cancer Evaluation Measures

Health outcomes measures for cervical cancer screening^1-4

The effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs depends on the intensity of program effort and the use of multiple interventions. A rule of thumb is that the more programs implemented together as a package or campaign, the more successful the interventions will be.

Baseline

• Determine levels of employee cervical cancer screening rates from employee health survey or health risk appraisal. Examples include: 
  • What percentage of employees of recommended screening age have been screened
  • Measures of the percent of employees of recommended screening age who currently achieve cervical cancer screening guidelines by employee health survey
• Determine baseline percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with cervical cancer such as tobacco use; HPV infection; or having HIV (the virus that causes AIDS); or another condition that weakens the immune system (making it hard for the body to fight off health problems)
• Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data ◦Of those employee who were screened, what percentage of pap tests had abnormal results
  • What percent of women with abnormal screening pap tests were referred to and completed diagnostic testing to confirm the absence or presence of cervical cancer or precancerous lesions
  • How many cases of cervical cancer or precancerous lesions were identified
  • What percent of cervical cancers were identified at stage 0, stage I, stage II, stage III, or stage IV
• Determine employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about breast cancer screening
  • Evaluate employees’ current knowledge of the health benefits of cervical cancer screening
  • Measure employee’s knowledge of current cervical cancer screening guidelines
  • Assess employee awareness of existing workplace cervical cancer screening programs and benefits

Process

• Periodic repeats of baseline measures

Outcome

• Assess changes in levels of employee cervical cancer screening rates such as: ◦Increases in the number of employees screened
  • Changes in the percentage of employees reaching cervical cancer screening guidelines
• Assess changes in the percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with cervical cancer such as tobacco use; HPV infection, or HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS), or another condition that weakens the immune system (making it hard for the body to fight off health problems)
• Compare health status changes of program participants before education and other programs are initiated and after operation of these programs
• Determine changes in the levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
• Assess changes in employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer screening 
  • Measure changes in employee knowledge of current cervical cancer screening health benefits and guidelines
  • Assess changes in employee awareness of existing workplace cervical cancer screening programs and benefits