Effect of a maternity consumer representative training program on participants' confidence and engagement.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the effects of a maternity consumer representative training program on participants' confidence to fulfil this role and engagement in representative activities. METHODS: The present study was a descriptive, pre-post evaluation design with a 3-month follow-up. Fifty-eight people completed the program and 55 agreed to participate in the evaluation. Participants completed questionnaires to assess confidence to undertake consumer representative roles and reported on their engagement with consumer activities. RESULTS: Participants' perceived confidence to function in the role of consumer representative differed significantly before and after the workshop (F(2,18)=7.057, P<0.001), as did confidence in decision making (F(2,16)=7.615, P=0.005), confidence in negotiating outcomes and liaising with key people (F(2,18)=7.154, P=0.005), and confidence in making use of relevant networks (F(2,18)=4.319, P=0.029). There was a decline in confidence at 3 months, with confidence at this time no longer significantly different from that at the time of recruitment. Engagement with consumer organisations increased by 45% compared with rates at commencement of the project. CONCLUSIONS: The program enhanced participants' confidence to fulfil a maternity consumer representative role but was not sustained. Further research is needed as to how to best support maternity consumer representatives and assess their contribution to promoting woman-centred care.

[Cytological screening of uterine cervical cancer by samples in liquid medium (CytoRich). Preliminary study of a series of 111 292 patients]. / Dépistage cytologique du cancer du col utérin par prélèvements en milieu liquide (CytoRich). Etude préliminaire d'une série de 111 292 patientes.

We report on the preliminary results of a series of 111,292 patients who benefited from a liquid medium sample (CytoRich) for cervical cancer screening. The number of dubious or limited smears was reduced by 0.03% and 0.53% respectively. The junction zone was better explored, and metaplastic changes were observed in 35.71% of the cases. This method improved the identification of low-grade lesions by +56% (2751/111,292; 2.47%) and of high-grade lesions by +75% (860/111,292; 0.77%), with a reduction in the number of ASCUS/AGUS by -44% (2065/111,292; 1.85%). This preliminary study confirms the results already published. The results demonstrating cytohistological correlation should prove to be a decisive factor, enabling the testing of the sensitivity and specificity of this technique. It will then be possible to envisage a future 'new paradigm' for screening cervical cancer as the result of a liquid medium sample, computer-assisted screening and HPV viral identification by Hybrid capture II.