Annie Emery Acting Director of Business Development The Lesbian & Gay Foundation 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 responses Post-Campaign Survey 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 one within the recommended timescales. LGB women are significantly less likely to have accessed cervical screening within the last five years than heterosexual women. 70.5% of LGB women of an eligible age reported screening within the last five years compared to 78.9% of the general female population. A significantly high proportion of LGB women (19%) reported never having been for a cervical screening test, suggesting that the barriers faced by LGB women are not being addressed. 36% of all the LGB women in our study had been misinformed and told they did not require a test due to their sexual orientation. This directly resulted in over half of 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 information 2.Widespread Campaign Delivery 3.Targeted Campaign Approaches 4.LGB Specific Training for Health Professionals 5.LGB Specific Cervical Screening Services 6.Sexual Orientation Monitoring 7.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 You Any Questions? For more information and to download the reports: