As seen in HSCCP
THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATION IN COLPOSCOPY
In developed European countries 10% of women participating in the mass screening program for cervical cancer receive an abnormal Pap test result.
The percentage is expected to be similar in the Greek population.
In these women, referral for a colposcopy examination is considered necessary, in order to investigate the possibility of the presence of precancerous changes or early stage cancer.
During the colposcopy it is usually possible to diagnose precancerous lesions of the cervix early and to effectively treat these lesions.
It is therefore evident the central role of colposcopy in the process of mass screening of the population, as well as the importance of ensuring conditions for the provision of high-quality colposcopy services.
The European Society of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy has made specific proposals to all the countries of the European Community to establish common training and certification standards for doctors dealing with this subject.
Colposcopy is not a particularly complex examination, but requires knowledge of the subject and experience of the gynecologist performing it.
The practice of this method by inadequately trained gynecologists entails two main risks.
The first is to not detect an existing lesion and therefore expose the woman to the risk of developing cancer.
The second risk is at the complete opposite extreme, where the gynecologist can misdiagnose the existence of disease in perfectly healthy women and subject them to unnecessary treatments for no particular reason.
It is worth noting that the majority of these women are of reproductive age (20-45 years old), and the treatment, if not done correctly, may have adverse effects on future pregnancies. Until today in Greece, unlike many Western European countries where certification systems have already been implemented (Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands), there is no certification process in colposcopy.
Training in colposcopy in our country is provided in most cases fragmentarily and opportunistically during training in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a time during which the parallel acquisition of a large amount of knowledge and techniques is required in many other fields of the specialty.
Consequently training in colposcopy is often lacking.
Due to the apparent simplicity of the method there is a danger of its reckless use with the consequences mentioned earlier.
In Great Britain, certification in colposcopy requires the completion of an extensive program that includes, among other things, the completion of a logbook and participation in final exams.
In other European countries, the certification program for doctors varies according to the conditions of providing medical services in each country.
CERTIFICATION METHOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC COLOPOSCOPY IN GREECE
This certificate will only concern diagnostic proficiency and obtaining it will require the fulfillment of the following conditions:
- Specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Registration in the Hellenic Society of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy.
- Participation in a colposcopy training course approved by the Greek or European colposcopy society.
- Successful participation in the exams.
Mr. Kalogirou Ioannis is trained and certified in colposcopy and cervical pathology.
