Cervical cancer and smoking.

I have worked in women's health at Christchurch Hospital for 23 years, the last 12 of them in the colposcopy department. I am currently completing my master's thesis, which explores the link between smoking and cervical cancer and which will complete my training to become a nurse colposcopist. I will then apply to become a nurse practitioner.

Our department sees between 50 and 60 women a week and runs 15 clinics each week. In 2004, I instigated a smoking cessation clinic as part of the services we offer. Every day, I meet women who smoke and are unaware of the link between smoking and cervical abnormalities. The research I have undertaken is going to be used to support smoking cessation and I have enjoyed this aspect of my work.

Two years ago, I produced a pamphlet, published in both Maori and English, alerting women to the harmful effects smoking has on the cervix. Smoking doubles the risk of cervical abnormalities, but stopping smoking can lead to lesion regression. The incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer among Maori women are double that for non-Maori.

I would now like to extend my research into the area of why "do not attend" rates for Maori and Pacific women are so high in colposcopy. I would Like this to become a nationwide study. Discussions are also underway about the possibility of running a Maori women's colposcopy clinic, as Maori women experience a number of barriers when accessing hospital treatment. (See article, p20.) Our relationship with the Wahine Ora Services of Christchurch's health and social services agency, He Waka Tapu, enables many Maori women to be supported when coming to the hospital for their colposcopy treatment.

I have appreciated the support I have received from other members of NZNO's women's health section committee, and have particularly enjoyed working on the nurse colposcopist guidelines, which were published at the end of last year.

Report by Jill Lomb, RN, Christchurch Hospital.