MEDICINE RESIDENTS PRACTICES IN CANCER SCREENING IN A HISPANIC POPULATION

Cancer screening is a valuable intervention to reduce breast cancer mo rtality and the incidence of invasive cervical carcinoma. We conducted a retrospective survey to determine the residents' compliance with us e of mammography and Pap smear in Hispanic women. A total of 280 chart s that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. According to the guid elines, 784 mammograms and 714 Pap smears were indicated. The resident s' compliance with mammography was 10.6% (+/- 9.16) and with Pap smear , 6.6% (+/- 7.68). The study demonstrates an unacceptable level of can cer screening practice by the medicine residents caring for this Hispa nic population.