The smear test: Women’s views

Susan gregory and linda mckie present a study which offers a fascinating insight into the attitudes of women towards the cervical smear test. their results demonstrate the myriad personal, social and environmental factors which influence women's decisions to take up, pursue or ignore the test and results. the authors conclude that more education for health care staff on understanding women's views, better administrative preparation for tests and, most importantly, a readjustment of male assumptions on the causation of positive test results are urgently required