Understanding first cervical screening experiences using narrative analysis of online blogs: a medical student perspective

Chitson, Sarah; Paul, Rini

doi:10.1080/14739879.2020.1716637

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…1 In England, individuals assigned female at birth are invited to CCS at age 25; however, a third do not attend their first screening. 2 Frequently, practical issues such as location and time of CCS are cited as reasons for not engaging with this protective health behaviour. [3][4][5] However, psychological factors are reported to be more predictive of screening status, 6 such as fear, embarrassment, anxiety and stigma.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lack of Awareness, Body Confidence and Connotations of Sex: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Barriers Affecting the Decision to Attend Initial Cervical Cancer Screening

Brook-Rowland

Finlay

2022

J Behav Health Serv Res

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This study sought to understand how cervical cancer screening (CCS) awareness, sexual connotations and body image influenced the likelihood of CCS uptake in women yet to attend. Eleven females, aged 23–24, yet to attend CCS, were purposefully sampled. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, generating three superordinate themes: (1) building screening expectations, (2) confronting sexual connotations and (3) growing pains. Findings demonstrated how a lack of awareness of CCS and the sexual connotations implicit in CCS acted as a barrier to attendance, exacerbated by negative body image comparisons between oneself and online or social media-based images. The perceived sexual connotations of CCS, and the resulting embarrassment, bolsters the case for self-screening, removing the need to attend clinic screening appointments. Reconceptualising screening using a theoretical model of the relationship between body image disturbances and body-focused screening behaviours among women, could lead to the development of pro-screening social media interventions.

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