Cervical cancer screening project report June 2020
Download (PDF 502.54 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Bolton consulted on potential health and wellbeing activity for 2019-2020 and members voted ‘prevention and screening’ as a topic. They decided to engage with women from a variety of sections of the community to deliver information and engagement sessions based around cervical screening. The general aim of the project was to establish what is and is not known by local people in Bolton about cervical screening. In addition, they hoped to highlight potential community cancer champions, which will ensure the work of increasing participation in cervical screening is sustainable. 1,784 people shared their views and experiences of cervical cancer screening via a survey and focus groups. 200 cancer champions were been recruited.
The survey found:
- When asked "How important is cervical screening to you?" 78% felt it was very important and 12% felt it was quite important.
- When why it was important was discussed 36% felt it was early diagnosis and prevention and 30% answered to stay healthy
- 96% surveyed knew why it was important to routinely get screened and 91% knew how to get information on screening.
- 88% surveyed had been invited for a screening session and 44% responded feeling positive when they received the invite with only 7% feeling negative.
- 71% of respondents said nothing would prevent them attending another screening session
Healthwatch Bolton held focus groups to understand people’s attitudes and experiences in greater detail. People from Black and Asian ethnicities explained that cervical cancer wasn’t talked about in their community and some women couldn’t understand the letters as they were in English. Others were concerned about comfort and exposing themselves. In some communities women were concerned that screening was linked to pre-marital sex.
The report contains recommendations about flexible appointment times and locations, staff attitude, awareness raising; engaging with Black and Asian women about improving uptake of screening, staff awareness; access to female practitioners; accessible information and accessibility for women with disabilities and learning disabilities. It also contains responses from providers and commissioners.