Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Ben RimmerORCiD, Professor Linda Sharp
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2022 The Author(s). The authors regret the use of inaccurate wording in the abstract to describe background information on the cervical screening controversy in Ireland. In particular, the reference to misdiagnosed smear tests is incorrect, to clarify smear tests were not misdiagnosed. The corrected abstract appears below. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. Corrected abstract (correct text in bold) There is a paucity of data on trust of service users in cervical screening. The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed that a clinical audit had revealed that more than 200 women who developed cancer had not been told of earlier misdiagnosed smear tests. A significant controversy in Ireland's national cervical cancer screening programme emerged in 2018, when smears from a group of women diagnosed with cervical cancer were retrospectively reviewed, and changes were found that were not obvious at the time of original screening. Most women were not told of these findings. During this high-profile controversy, we conducted qualitative interviews exploring factors that influence cervical screening participation. Women who had been invited for routine screening tests were recruited from the national screening register. Telephone interviews were conducted with 48 women aged 25–65 years; with a range of screening histories – 34 were adequately screened (attended all routine screening tests) and 14 were inadequately screened (attended some/no screening tests). Thematic analysis was conducted, and all interviewees spontaneously raised the screening controversy revealing that the crisis had resulted in serious loss of trust, faith and confidence in the screening programme. Publicity surrounding the controversy had some beneficial effects, including increased awareness of the value of screening and beliefs that intense focus on the programme will improve the service long-term. Strategies which incorporate these findings could help rebuild trust in screening.
Author(s): O'Donovan B, Mooney T, Rimmer B, Fitzpatrick P, Flannelly G, Doherty L, Russell N, Martin CM, O'Leary JJ, Sharp L, O'Connor M
Publication type: Note
Publication status: Published
Journal: Preventive Medicine Reports
Year: 2022
Volume: 25
Online publication date: 17/03/2022
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
ISSN (electronic): 2211-3355
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101773
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101773
