Abstract
Background The NHS cervical screening programme saves 5000 lives each year. However, one third of eligible women do not attend their screening. Audit and feedback (A&F) is an effective quality improvement strategy, but it has not previously been evaluated as a method of promoting cervical screening uptake.
Aim To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of A&F to improve the uptake of cervical screening in general practice.
Method Cervical screening data for 23 general practices was used to generate individualised quarterly feedback reports containing comparative data, knowledge updates, and links to resources. Reports were e-mailed to practice managers, requesting for them to be shared with practice staff. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with primary care staff (GPs, nurses, practice managers) and commissioners to determine how the reports were received, perceived and used. The ‘Theoretical framework: Clinical Performance Feedback Intervention Theory’ (CP-FIT) was used for interview script development and for analysis.
Results 13 primary care staff and four commissioners were interviewed. The majority did not recall having seen the report prior to the study invitation. The intervention was received positively. Report format, frequency and content were considered appropriate. Some participants felt that a granular level of information would allow specific patient groups to be targeted. Greater emphasis on the reports’ suggested actions plans was suggested. Participants also highlighted the need for protected time in practices to discuss the reports.
Conclusion Feedback interventions can potentially improve cervical screening uptake. However, feedback reports can only influence practice if they reach targeted staff.
