Current Size: 100%
CERVIVA - Irish Cervical Screening Research Consortium
Status:
Cancer(s):
Research theme(s):
Research workstream(s):
Related staff:
Collaborators & co-investigators:
Dr Grainne Flannelly, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin
Dr Cara Martin, Coombe Hospital, Dublin
Prof Charles Normand, Trinity College Dublin
Prof John O’Leary, Coombe Hospital, Dublin
Ms Loretto Pilkington, Coombe Hospital, Dublin
Prof Walter Prendiville, Coombe Hospital, Adelaide & Meath Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Prof Michael Turner, Coombe Hospital, Dublin
Funding source:
Health Research Board
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:
- A postal survey of women’s attitudes towards cervical screening, HPV vaccination and HPV testing
- Focus groups in women to assess women’s attitudes, knowledge and practices with regard to cervical screening, HPV testing and vaccination
- In-depth, face-to-face, interviews with women who had an HPV DNA test performed at a colposcopy clinic in order to understand the psychological impact of HPV testing on women
- A longitudinal survey of the psychological impact of colposcopy and related interventions on women over a 12 month follow-up period
- A postal survey amongst general practitioners (GPs) to provide evidence-based information to support education programmes that increase awareness among GPs of screening, HPV infection and HPV vaccination
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.
- Registry and CERVIVA investigators present their research findings at HPV 2015 in Portugal
- CERVIVA research symposium on the 12th June, Dublin
- European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2015
- What influences the HPV-related information needs of women having HPV tests?
- Two new job vacancies announced
- Women’s views about HPV testing may present a challenge for cervical screening programmes
- CERVIVA study highlights the influential role of GPs in women’s cervical screening behaviours
- New study reveals the emotional impact of HPV testing for the follow-up of abnormal cervical smears or treatment for CIN may be modest
- New research from National Cancer Registry finds increased incidence rates in cervical cancer during 1994-2008, while mortality rates are unchanged
- Socio-economic variations in anticipated adverse reactions to testing HPV positive: Implications for the introduction of primary HPV-based cervical screening
- Influences on human papillomavirus (HPV)-related information needs among women having HPV tests for follow-up of abnormal cervical cytology
- Motivators for women to attend cervical screening: the influential role of GPs
- "If you can't treat HPV, why test for it?" Women's attitudes to the changing face of cervical cancer prevention: a focus group study
- 'I don't care whether it's HPV or ABC, I just want to know if I have cancer.' Factors influencing women's emotional responses to undergoing human papillomavirus testing in routine management in cervical screening: a qualitative study
- Evaluation of the clinical performance of the cobas 4800 HPV test in patients referred for colposcopy
- Reducing possible harms of screening: communicating about HPV
- Factors associated with women’s attitudes towards HPV vaccination: results from a large population survey in Ireland
- Health-related quality of life in women after colposcopy: Results from a patient survey
- "HPV is the nicer name for genital warts": beliefs, misconceptions, unanswered questions and factors influencing information needs among women who have a HPV test within routine follow-up
- Women’s experience and views of HPV testing: a qualitative study of the impact of HPV testing on women
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