Internet Survey of Colposcopy Practices

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Abstract
Our aim was to use electronic mail to survey health care providers about practice patterns involving atypical Papanicolaou smears. A six-item questionnaire evaluating demographics and practice patterns was distributed on two Internet electronic mail forums: OB-GYN-L and GYN-DOCS. There were approximately 340 eligible participants. A total of 88 (26%) completed surveys were received. The percentage of respondents to the survey who would refer patients for colposcopy was 42% for findings of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, unqualified (ASCUS-unqualified), 92% for findings of ASCUS-favoring neoplastic change, 18% for ASCUS-favoring reactive change, and 95% for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSILs). With the exception of ASCUS-favoring neoplastic change as compared to LGSILs, each category was found to be statistically different from the others (p This survey of practice patterns suggests that subdividing ASCUS into types favoring either reactive or neoplastic changes has been adopted clinically. LGSIL and ASCUS-favoring neoplastic change are triaged to colposcopy, whereas findings of ASCUS-favoring reactive changes are followed by colposcopy. Surveys conducted via electronic mail may have lower response rates than postal surveys.

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