About This Project

There is evidence that increasing awareness around cervical cancer could reduce patient loss to follow up in Peru. As such, our group seeks to build on pre-existing models, partnering with hospitals, and NGOs in Peru, to implement a cervical cancer education model, which targets patients after their first appointment in order to reduce loss to follow-up. Metrics of success will be reduced loss to follow up, and increased women being treated.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) affects the lives of 500,000 women worldwide each year, resulting in more than 270,000 deaths [1]. In Peru, ICC is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women, affecting almost 5,000 women each year [2]. ICC is highly preventable through early screening, diagnosis and treatment of cervical precursor lesions [3]. There is evidence that increasing awareness around cancer, its associated health implications, and possible prevention methods, could have a positive effect to increase uptake of prevention programs by patients and reduce loss to follow up [4, 5]. As such, health education and patient outreach are extremely critical in implementing successful cervical cancer prevention campaigns.

What is the significance of this project?

The multi-visit cervical cancer screen-and-treat paradigm results in a 75% loss to follow-up in Peru, leaving majority of women untreated [1]. Though there have been prior initiatives to implement patient education programs, most have focused on adolescent girls or women unaware of cervical cancer [2,3]. Our group seeks to build on pre-existing patient education methods, partnering with hospitals, clinics and NGOs in Peru, to implement a cervical cancer education model in both urban and rural settings, which targets patients after their first screening appointment in order to reduce loss to follow-up. This would increase the percentage of women returning for disease confirmation and treatment and help reduce mortality from cervical cancer.

What are the goals of the project?

We will target women between ages 30-55 years, the recommended age for cervical cancer screening. We will conduct both one-on-one and classroom style education models. These will include brief, surveys to determine prior knowledge about cervical cancer. We will then provide tailored informationals to the patient on the reasons for the multi-visit approach, address any stigmas and misconceptions, and answer questions and concerns. We will also have patients participate in role play methods: e.g. “how would you convince your husband that screening is important?”. Monitoring and evaluation will be performed with metrics for outcomes of success being reduction of women lost to follow up and increase in women being treated.