- Describe your topic.
- Experience of pain during cervical screening tests. I'm interested in knowing what percentage of women feel pain during cervical screening tests, both the older pap smear test, and the newer HPV test. Is there a difference in experience of pain between the two tests, if the HPV test (I think) uses less or no lubricant? How much does experience of pain differ depending on the size and type of speculum used by the doctor performing the examination? Is experience of pain greater for women who have either never had penetrative sex, such as many lesbians, or who have not had it for some time? How much is avoidance of screening due to pain felt during the test? Does the evidence surrounding pain during screening tests match what patients are told in patient information pamphlets, where we are told that we should only experience discomfort not pain, and which heavily imply that it's our own fault if we do?
- Describe why this topic is important.
- Women are told through patient information brochures and on health-related websites that cervical screening is only uncomfortable, not painful. I would like to know how much evidence there is behind that assertion? Those information packages also heavily imply that if we do feel pain, that it's our own fault for not doing relaxation exercises or for not telling the doctor soon enough, rather than acknowledging that it might be the doctor's fault for being too rough or for using too large a speculum. They also make no mention of conditions such as vaginismus, or of there being any difference of experience for lesbians or for other women who don't regularly have vaginal sex.
- Tell us why you are suggesting this topic.
- Because I believe patient advice should be evidence-based and non-judgmental. Because I would like to see those patient information pamphlets improved. Because I understand that screening rates might increase if the test wasn't so unpleasant. And because this is an area of medicine that only effects women and hence there is perhaps less attention given to the amount of pain we're expected to endure or to how the procedure could be improved to reduce that.
- Target Date.
- Describe what you are doing currently and what you are hoping will change because of a new evidence report.
- I would love for those patient information pamphlets to better acknowledge women's experience of pain during cervical screening tests. I would also as an Australian love for our government to review their decision to switch from the pap smear test to the HPV test if there is any difference in the levels of pain women feel between the two tests. I would most of all love for doctors to be trained to be gentler and to understand that yes, these tests can be painful for women.
- How will you or your group use the information from a new evidence report?
- N/A.
- How would you or your group plan to disseminate information from the report? Who would you plan to disseminate it to?
- I would love for it to be sent to the health minister, and also to whichever health organisations write those patient information pamphlets that blame us for our own pain.
- Do you know of organizations that could use an evidence report to change clinical practice? Are you a part of, or have you been in contact with, any organizations that might implement the research findings of an evidence report?
- The health minister, the health department, doctors, the AMA, the RACGP.
- Information About You: (optional)
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- Provide a description of your role or perspective.
- Patient
- If you are you making a suggestion on behalf of an organization, please state the name of the organization.
- N/A.
- Please tell us how you heard about the Effective Health Care Program.
- Google, after searching for how to suggest research topics.
