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Appendix M. Greater Glasgow Health Board - West of Scotland Breast Screening Service
Topics: Hard to Reach Groups
Background
In the Glasgow area, uptake rates for breast screening varied from 45% to 85%. Many factors can influence uptake rates. However, statistics from 2001/2 showed large attendance differences between deprivation categories with uptake in Depcat 7 below 65%, whereas uptake at Depcat 1 was 85%. In particular, uptake was low in certain areas such as Easterhouse and Gorbals, both Depcat 7 and both with an uptake of less than 45%.
Funding allocation
The pilot was allocated £610,000
Aim(s)
To increase overall attendance at breast screening clinics and to target attendance by ethnic minority groups.
Methodology
An evaluation by NHS Greater Glasgow in 2004 suggested that a variety of types of intervention can lead to a possible increase in uptake of breast screening. These included Personally Directed Intervention e.g. personal invitation letters, reminder letters and contact by phone, second invitations with fixed appointments and the introduction of local initiatives.
Therefore, the West of Scotland Breast Screening Service decided to use unmet needs funding to finance three activities aimed at increasing the uptake for breast screening. These were: community seminars, confirmation of intention to attend contact and information material specifically aimed at ethnic minority women.
These were held in Castlemilk, Parkhead and Bridgeton and attendees included GPs, practice managers, practice nurses and health visitors.
A successful initiative had previously been undertaken in Bridgeton where members of the practice staff had contacted women to confirm their intention to attend. The uptake improved from 55% to 70% as a result of this contact. This idea was introduced at the community seminars and generated some interest.
Typically, uptake is low for ethnic minority groups. It was therefore decided to produce a DVD demonstrating the screening procedure for women that addressed general questions that women ask during the process. The DVD was subtitled in three languages and had subtitles in English provided for the deaf community.
Key results
Pre and post community seminar questionnaires were distributed and preliminary results demonstrated a substantial increase in knowledge of the attendees following the seminar. In addition, respondents indicated increased confidence in discussing breast screening and some respondents indicated a desire to initiate activities to raise awareness.
Conclusions
Initial work suggests that the initiatives introduced are having a positive effect in increasing knowledge and there exists the possibility of increasing service uptake though a personal contact initiative used to confirm intention to attend for screening.
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