Introduction
Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer for the female population of the United States. However, its negative outcomes have decreased dramatically in recent years due to preemptive measures available to women. The following proposal will examine the issue, and how it may be reduced further through an evidence-based project.
Evidence-Based Project vs. Research Project
The proposal is focused on applying the information about cervical cancer interventions to the current clinical practice. A lot of research has been done on the topic of cervical cancer and how various strategies of intervention work to address it. This proposal is designed to utilize this information in hopes of providing an effective evidence-based project about cervical cancer. Unlike a research project, the proposal is dedicated to already established information on the topic.
The Issue
Cervical cancer originates in the cervix of a woman and is often represented by an abnormal growth of cells throughout the body. Its most common cause is the Human papillomavirus also known as HPV. Infection with the HPV however, is not guaranteed to cause cervical cancer. Secondary causes include smoking, birth control medicine, and a weak immune system, but such cases are extremely rare in comparison to those caused by HPV (Smith & Brawley, 2014).
The Intervention
Due to the majority of cases being caused by HPV, the intervention process is mostly based on the prevention of the virus. Vaccination is one of the most effective measures of prevention against cervical cancer. It is estimated that almost 90% of all cervical cancers can be prevented through vaccination. Cervical screening is another type of cancer prevention. By performing regular cervix screening every three to five years through the Papanicolaou test, also known as Pap smear, more than 80% of all the cases may be reduced. The test can detect precancerous changes, which enables preventative treatment to take place (Smith & Brawley, 2014).
Educational interventions are especially effective because of the preventative measures. The interventions can be designed to inform people of the vaccination and screening procedures. They may also include free access to vaccines and screening services. Information could be passed on through public service announcements on television, radio, and social media (Lowy, 2016).
Expected Outcomes
The outcomes are expected to be positive due to the effectiveness of the prevention measures and the continuous decline in the frequency rate of cervical cancer cases. With 90% of the cases being preventable, every effort should be undertaken to promote vaccination and Pap smear screening. If educational and medical interventions prove to be effective, the outcomes should show a dramatic decrease in cervix cancer (Lowy, 2016).
Relevance to the Role
As a nurse practitioner, I often encounter women who are concerned with the health of their reproductive system. I have observed that a significant portion of them was not aware of how easily cervical cancer can be prevented. My role allows me to educate the patients on these procedures, but I believe that an organized effort could provide much more significant outcomes.
Conclusion
Despite its preventable nature, cervical cancer is still one of the top ten most common cancers that women experience in the United States. An intervention that combines education and clinical measures should be utilized to address it. The results are expected to be positive.
References
Smith, R. A., & Brawley, O. W. (2014). The national breast and cervical cancer early detection program: Toward a system of cancer screening in the United States. Cancer, 120(S16), 2617–2619.
Lowy, D. R. (2016). HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-associated disease: From basic science to effective interventions. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 126(1), 5–11.