Annie Emery

Acting Director of Business Development

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation

08453 303030

annie.emery@lgf.org.uk

Are You Ready For Your Screen Test?

Cervical Screening in the lesbian, gay and bisexual women’s community of

the North West

• Cervical cancer claims the lives of almost 3 women a

day in the UK

• Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease

• Cervical screening saves approximately 4,500 lives

per year in England

• The biggest risk factor for cervical cancer is non

attendance for screening

The Facts

• Myth busting

• New NHS Guidance in 2009• Communication of new

message

• All women need screening

Background to Pilot Project

• General myths and lack of knowledge within the LGB women’s community

• Lack of awareness in some health professionals

• Heterosexist attitudes • Reluctance or fear of coming out• Previous negative experiences

Barriers to Screening for lesbian, gay & bisexual women

1. Increase knowledge about cervical cancer & the need to attend screening

2. Increase knowledge about the right to access screening

3. Increase confidence in dealing with potential barriers to screening

4. Mixed mode approach to intervention taking account of the diversity of LGB women

5. Develop solid evaluation mechanisms to provide an evidence base for future action

Pilot Project Objectives

A 12 month project in three parts:

• Part One: Initial baseline survey• Part Two: Awareness Raising Campaign• Part Three: Post intervention evaluation

Pilot Project Timetable

• Campaign launch events• Poster and postcard campaigns• Information booklet• Print and online articles, adverts and interviews • Viral videos• Interactive web game and board game• Social media• Radio presence• Promotional goodies • Targeted one to one outreach

Are You Ready For Your Screen Test? Campaign

Are You Ready For Your Screen Test? Campaign Numbers

• Pre-Campaign Survey - 611 responses• Post-Campaign Survey - 293 responses• Overall most women surveyed aged 25+

Method and Data

Pre Campaign Key Findings• 51% of LGB women of an eligible age had either never had a test, or not had onewithin the recommended timescales.

• LGB women are significantly less likely to have accessed cervical screening withinthe last five years than heterosexual women. 70.5% of LGB women of an eligibleage reported screening within the last five years compared to 78.9% of the generalfemale population.

• A significantly high proportion of LGB women (19%) reported never having beenfor a cervical screening test, suggesting that the barriers faced by LGB women arenot being addressed.

• 36% of all the LGB women in our study had been misinformed and told they didnot require a test due to their sexual orientation. This directly resulted in over halfof them disengaging from screening programmes, believing they were not at risk.

• 73% of LGB women of an eligible age have been for a test within the recommended NHS timescales (either three or five years depending on age). In Survey one this figure stood at 49%.

51% of LGB women reported positive behavioural change as a direct result of engaging with the campaign

Post Campaign Results

Recommendations

1. Targeted, appropriate and accurate information2. Widespread Campaign Delivery3. Targeted Campaign Approaches4. LGB Specific Training for Health Professionals 5. LGB Specific Cervical Screening Services6. Sexual Orientation Monitoring7. Work with the trans community

Was the campaign effective?

96% of participants felt the campaign was effective

Rolling Out a National Campaign

99% of participants felt it would be worthwhile to run this campaign nationally

Training of Health Professionals

93% of participants thought more needs to be done to train health professionals in the needs of LGB women.

National Roll Out April 2012

• First national health campaign aimed at lesbian and bisexual women

• Campaign materials delivered to all 9 English regions

• Campaign stall at Pride events in all 9 English regions

• Utilising analysis from the research project as to the best mechanisms for getting the campaign message out to women

Online e-learning toolkit

• Aimed at cervical screening sample takers• Hosted on NHS National Cancer Screening

Programmes website • Will count towards health professionals training

points system• Online evaluation of trainees

Evaluation of impact

• Pre campaign online survey will measure LGB women’s knowledge, attitudes and experience of cervical screening

• Post campaign online survey will measure impact of the campaign on LGB women

Activity•What can you do as an individual to promote this national campaign?•What can you do as an organisation to promote this national campaign?•What are the current challenges for lesbian, bisexual and trans women in 2012?

Thank YouAny Questions?

For more information and to download the reports: www.lgf.org.uk/screening