Cervical Cancer/HPV Vaccine Awareness Up, But More Efforts Needed To Ensure Access And Availability

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 07 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Cervical cancer remains a leading killer of women, however, thanks to a test for the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, and the development of an HPV vaccine, tools exist to conquer this disease. Cervical cancer is in the public eye and tops public policy agendas, and education, outreach and prevention are at an all-time high. In the 'Cancer: Caring and Conquering' column in the February 2008 issue of MEDSURG Nursing, Sarah F. Wells provides an overview of cervical cancer risk factors, screening tools, prevention efforts and public policy goals.

Wells, associate director of Women in Government, an organization of female state legislators providing leadership, networking and education resources for public policy issues, says most states are making efforts to prevent cervical cancer and promote vaccination. Positive steps are being made, however, the number of uninsured women without access continues to rise.

According to Wells, Women in Government recommends the following awareness and prevention efforts in 2008:

-- State departments of health should develop and implement plans to ensure girls and women have access to and receive cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine.

-- States should consider adding the HPV vaccine to the list of required vaccines to enter middle school.

-- States should encourage insurance providers to cover cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine.

-- States should act so uninsured and underinsured women have access to cervical cancer/HPV vaccination and screening.

The 'Cancer: Conquering and Caring' column is made possible through an educational grant from C-Change (http://www.c-changetogether.org).

"Cervical Cancer: An Overview with Suggested Practice and Policy Goals"
Sarah F. Wells, MA
MEDSURG Nursing - February 2008; http://www.medsurgnursing.net

MEDSURG Nursing, The Journal of Adult Health, is the official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). The journal provides its readers with the multidisciplinary information they need to provide clinically excellent patient care and to enhance their nursing practice. MEDSURG Nursing supports adult health/medical-surgical nurses as they strive for excellence in patient care, private practice, and outpatient health care settings in urban, suburban, and rural locations. Each peer-reviewed issue of MEDSURG Nursing features a comprehensive discussion and description of today's clinical issues in adult health/medical-surgical nursing. MEDSURG Nursing and AMSN are committed to the advancement of adult health/medical-surgical nursing practice. The journal is published six times a year.

http://www.medsurgnursing.net

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