Accuracy of self-reported cervical and breast cancer screening by women with intellectual disability

Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2013 Jul;118(4):327-36. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-188.4.327.

Abstract

This study examines the accuracy of self-report of cervical and breast cancer screening by women with intellectual disability (n = 155). Data from face-to-face interviews and medical records were analyzed. Total agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated. Total agreement between self-report and medical record on receipt of both procedures was 75% for Pap test and 87% for mammography. Self-reported Pap tests and mammography showed >90% sensitivity, but specificity was low for both procedures (41% for Pap test, 30% for mammogram), indicating overreporting of receipt of Pap tests and mammography similar to women without disabilities. Clinicians and researchers are cautioned to corroborate self-reported data with other sources for patients and research participants with intellectual disability.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Early Detection of Cancer / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology*
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Mammography / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Self Report / standards*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / psychology
  • Vaginal Smears / psychology