Cervical cancer is the second most common female malignancy worldwide. There are approximately 200 new cases diagnosed and 70 deaths annually in Ireland. A number of factors are known to be associated with increased risk of cervical cancer including smoking and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV infection is very common in Ireland and 70-80% of women will be infected at some stage in their life. In most cases infection lasts only a few months before it is cleared by the woman’s own immune system. However the infection persists in a small percentage of women and these women are at increased risk of cervical cancer. The disease is characterised by a well-defined pre-malignancy phase making early detection possible with cytology screening methods. A national cervical screening programme, CervicalCheck, was introduced in Ireland in 2008. The introduction of screening programmes in other countries has seen a dramatic decrease in cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the population.
Under the auspices of the CERVIVA research consortium, researchers at the National Cancer Registry aimed to investigate attitudes and psychological impact of screening. This research comprised of several studies:
The ultimate aim of this research is to improve cervical screening experiences for women.
The results from these studies have being disseminated at both national and international research conferences. Some findings have also been published in scientific journals. Other findings are in the process of being written up for publication.
Links
[1] https://www.ncri.ie/research-status/dissemination
[2] https://www.ncri.ie/cancers/cervix-uteri
[3] https://www.ncri.ie/research-theme/health-services-research
[4] https://www.ncri.ie/research-workstream/cancer-screening
[5] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/registry-and-cerviva-investigators-present-their-research-findings-hpv-2015-portugal
[6] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/cerviva-research-symposium-12th-june-dublin
[7] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/european-cervical-cancer-prevention-week-2015
[8] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/what-influences-hpv-related-information-needs-women-having-hpv-tests
[9] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/two-new-job-vacancies-announced
[10] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/women%E2%80%99s-views-about-hpv-testing-may-present-challenge-cervical-screening-programmes
[11] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/cerviva-study-highlights-influential-role-gps-women%E2%80%99s-cervical-screening-behaviours
[12] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/new-study-reveals-emotional-impact-hpv-testing-follow-abnormal-cervical-smears-or
[13] https://www.ncri.ie/news/article/new-research-national-cancer-registry-finds-increased-incidence-rates-cervical-cancer
[14] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/socio-economic-variations-anticipated-adverse-reactions-testing-hpv
[15] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/influences-human-papillomavirus-hpv-related-information-needs-among-women
[16] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/motivators-women-attend-cervical-screening-influential-role-gps
[17] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/if-you-cant-treat-hpv-why-test-it-womens-attitudes-changing-face-cervical
[18] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/i-dont-care-whether-its-hpv-or-abc-i-just-want-know-if-i-have-cancer
[19] https://www.ncri.ie/research/scientific-papers/evaluation-clinical-performance-cobas-4800-hpv-test-patients-referred
[20] https://www.ncri.ie/research/presentations/reducing-possible-harms-screening-communicating-about-hpv
[21] https://www.ncri.ie/research/presentations/factors-associated-women%E2%80%99s-attitudes-towards-hpv-vaccination-results-large
[22] https://www.ncri.ie/research/presentations/health-related-quality-life-women-after-colposcopy-results-patient-survey
[23] https://www.ncri.ie/research/presentations/hpv-nicer-name-genital-warts-beliefs-misconceptions-unanswered-questions-and
[24] https://www.ncri.ie/research/presentations/women%E2%80%99s-experience-and-views-hpv-testing-qualitative-study-impact-hpv-testing
[25] https://www.ncri.ie/email/node/386/field_contact_email