The use of interactive medical data transfer to increase effectiveness of a mass screening program

: Cervical cancer is still called the most frequent neoplasm refer to women's genital tract (incidence rate 30-35/100,000/year). Scandinavian countries experiences have shown that effective screening program especially used multimedia (radio, TV, Internet) is one of the based elements, which should improve situation in prevention of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was an attempt to create medical Website including specialized and basic informations for doctors and patients about cervical and breast cancer, their prophylactic and treatment. An influence of these data to increase active participation in screening program was also analysed. Material covers a random sample of 1200 women (30-59 years of age) who were invited to participate in cytology screening in two edition of the program (1997-99, 2000-02). In the years of 2000-02 information about Website was added to the invitation. Medical Website was created as server information. A special questionnaire prepared by Sociology Department was distributed to 1200 women. In both group participation during two screening edition was compared and analysed. All data were statistically correlated. Website address was created: http://pkzr.ac.bialystok.pl. From the group of 1200 questioned (mean age--41.8) answered 1059 women (88.25%). 6.98% (n=74) have never used this Website but 20 of them have done cytology test after receiving an invitation which were posted to all 1200 women. The last of 985 women analysed Website. 80.4% (n=792) have received enough informations about cervical and breast cancer (4.67 point) and decided to participate in cervical cancer screening. From this group only 428 women actively took part in cytology exams in 1997-99. 189 women participated in the screening programme from the last 193 patients (19.6%) who analysed server informations (4.89 point). From 141 people who have not answered for the questionnaire 23 have done cytology test. Participation in the second edition of cervical cancer screening programme (1997-99) was 41.9%. It was really two times lower than in the same group who could used Internet and was estimated on 85.3%. Internet site--http://pkzr.ac.bialystok.pl seems to be a basic digital textbook about cervical and breast neoplastic disease and their prophylactic. It is also interactive transferring data source that could create healthy attitude to increase effectiveness of screening programmes.