FOLLOW-UP OF ABNORMAL PAPANICOLAOU SMEARS AMONG WOMEN OF DIFFERENT RACES

Background. Current information about racial differences in the rate o f cervical abnormalities is incomplete, and there are few data about r acial differences in compliance with follow-up and treatment. The purp ose of this study was to investigate the frequency and follow-up of ab normal Pap smear findings in white, black, and Southeast Asian women. Methods. The charts of women who attended a St Paul family practice re sidency clinic and who had abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear results b etween January 1, 1989, and September 1, 1992, were reviewed, and info rmation about age, race, insurance, Pap smear findings, diagnostic stu dies, and treatment procedures was recorded. Results. Of 1794 women wh o had Pap smears during this period, 190 (10.6%) had abnormal results, with a diagnosis of atypia, dysplasia, or carcinoma. The rate of abno rmality was greater for black women (16.4%) than for Southeast Asian ( 6.1%) and white women (11.6%); however, the proportion of abnormal Pap smears that showed moderately severe or worse changes was greater for Southeast Asians than for whites (30.6% vs 14.3%, P <.05). Southeast Asian women with abnormal Pap smears were also less likely than whites and blacks to follow through with recommended diagnostic and treatmen t procedures. Conclusions. Southeast Asian women in this study were le ss likely than white and black women to comply with recommended follow -up diagnostic and treatment procedures for cervical disease.