Abstract
Introduction
CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening programme, aims to reduce to reduce the cervical cancer incidence and death rate in Ireland. CervicalCheck offers a free HPV (human papillomavirus) cervical screening test (formerly referred to as smear test) to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to
65 who live in Ireland every 3 to 5 years, depending on the result. The coverage rate of the cervical screening programme is approximately 78% of all eligible people screened over five years across all eligible cohorts, although there may be significant variation in participation by age, geography, deprivation, ethnicity, or other factors. Currently all CervicalCheck screening invites and other communications take place via postal letter. Using new methods to reach service users may improve attendance and reduce cost. As technology advances, more people have access to mobile phones. As a result, text messaging is rapidly being integrated into healthcare practices and could have the potential to improve response to invites and increase attendance at cervical screening in Ireland.
Project Aim
The aim of the current project is to inform the implementation of text messages in CervicalCheck by combining a review of international evidence with an exploration of acceptability and feasibility in the Irish context.
Project Method
A two-part systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise international evidence on barriers and facilitators to attendance at cervical screening and to explore evidence on effectiveness, costeffectiveness, and content of text messages. Eighteen key stakeholders were consulted to assess
acceptability and technical, operational, legal, economic feasibility in the implementation of text messages in CervicalCheck. The literature review and stakeholder report findings were then combined using the Affordability,
Practicability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects and safety and Equity (APEASE) criteria (1) and key considerations for the implementation of text messages within CervicalCheck outlined.
CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening programme, aims to reduce to reduce the cervical cancer incidence and death rate in Ireland. CervicalCheck offers a free HPV (human papillomavirus) cervical screening test (formerly referred to as smear test) to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to
65 who live in Ireland every 3 to 5 years, depending on the result. The coverage rate of the cervical screening programme is approximately 78% of all eligible people screened over five years across all eligible cohorts, although there may be significant variation in participation by age, geography, deprivation, ethnicity, or other factors. Currently all CervicalCheck screening invites and other communications take place via postal letter. Using new methods to reach service users may improve attendance and reduce cost. As technology advances, more people have access to mobile phones. As a result, text messaging is rapidly being integrated into healthcare practices and could have the potential to improve response to invites and increase attendance at cervical screening in Ireland.
Project Aim
The aim of the current project is to inform the implementation of text messages in CervicalCheck by combining a review of international evidence with an exploration of acceptability and feasibility in the Irish context.
Project Method
A two-part systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise international evidence on barriers and facilitators to attendance at cervical screening and to explore evidence on effectiveness, costeffectiveness, and content of text messages. Eighteen key stakeholders were consulted to assess
acceptability and technical, operational, legal, economic feasibility in the implementation of text messages in CervicalCheck. The literature review and stakeholder report findings were then combined using the Affordability,
Practicability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects and safety and Equity (APEASE) criteria (1) and key considerations for the implementation of text messages within CervicalCheck outlined.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Luimneach |
| Publisher | CervicalCheck |
| Commissioning body | National Screening Service |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |