The Queensland Cervical Screening Program (QCSP) monitors the performance of the Program to inform policy and practice and ensure it is achieving it aims and objectives.
Mortality and incidence
The Queensland Cervical Screening Program (QCSP) is a successful population health program that has reduced the incidence of and mortality associated with cervical cancer in Queensland since the Program commenced in 1991. For women (all ages) incidence has decreased 40% and a 36% reduction in mortality has been observed (1991-2006). In Queensland, 679,309 women (59.1% of women aged 20 to 69 years) participated in the Program during the period 2006-07.
In 2006 there were 186 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in Queensland and 60 deaths.
[1] Queensland Cancer Registry, Queensland Cancer Fund (2009). Cancer in Queensland - Incidence and Mortality 1982-2006. Brisbane: Queensland Cancer Fund.
Participation rates|
Measuring participation is a critical indicator of the success of the QCSP. The current policy is that women should participate in screening once every two years, and participation is measured by rates. The participation rate is calculated as a count of the number of eligible women aged 20 to 69 who have had a Pap smear within a two year period and who choose to be registered on the Queensland Health Pap Smear Register (PSR) as a proportion of the eligible population. Women who choose not to have their details sent to the Queensland Health PSR or who choose to have their details removed from the Queensland Health PSR are unable to be counted and therefore, are excluded from the rate. The state-wide participation rate for the target age group of women aged 20 to 69 was 59.3% in 2006/07 and is lower than the national average participation rate of 61.5% in 2006/07.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009. Cervical screening in Australia 2006–2007.
Cancer series no. 47. Cat. no. CAN 43. Canberra: AIHW.
Some women in the target population are unlikely to require screening. They include those who have had a total hysterectomy with their cervix removed. The population data are adjusted to remove women who have had a hysterectomy. Hysterectomy rates are derived from self-reported information on hysterectomies in the 2001 National Health Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Additional information about cervical screening participation rates in Queensland is contained the following statistical reports:
The Queensland Cervical Screening Program Area Health Service Reports:
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