Disseminating a cervical cancer screening program through primary physicians in Hong Kong: a qualitative study

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  • Fabrizio, Cecilia S
    • Other Affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, 5th Floor, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
  • Shea, Christopher
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management
Abstract
  • Abstract Background Organized screening programs are more effective and equitable than opportunistic screening, yet governments face challenges to implement evidence-based programs. The objective of this study was to identify reasons for low levels of adoption among primary care physicians of a government sponsored Cervical Screening Program (CSP). Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with a snowball sample of primary care private and public primary care physicians in Hong Kong. Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation was used to understand the factors that influenced the physicians’ practice decisions. Results Our study found that Hong Kong physicians made the decision to encourage cervical screening and to participate in the CSP based primarily upon their clinical and business practice needs rather than upon the scientific evidence. The low rates of adoption of the CSP can be attributed to the physicians’ perceptions that the program’s complexity and incompatibility exceeded its relative advantages. Furthermore, women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices, identified as barriers by physicians, were also barriers to physicians adopting the CSP. Conclusions In both private and public health care systems, screening programs that rely on physicians must align program incentives with the physicians’ motivators or pursue additional demand creation policies to achieve objectives.
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Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Rights holder
  • Cecilia S Fabrizio et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
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Journal title
  • BMC Health Services Research
Journal volume
  • 14
Journal issue
  • 1
Page start
  • 85
Language
  • English
Is the article or chapter peer-reviewed?
  • Yes
ISSN
  • 1472-6963
Bibliographic citation
  • BMC Health Services Research. 2014 Feb 25;14(1):85
Publisher
  • BioMed Central Ltd
Access right
  • Open Access
Date uploaded
  • August 26, 2015

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