Exploring Healthcare Professional Discourse During Cervical Screening
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Healthcare Professionals’ Discourse During Cervical Screening Appointments and its Impact on Patient Experience.
IRAS ID
360861
Contact name
Amy Page
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 29 days
Research summary
Despite a national screening programme, many UK patients do not attend their cervical screening appointments, increasing their cervical cancer risk. Communication by healthcare professionals during these appointments can significantly impact patients’ experiences and likelihood of re-attending (Chorley et al., 2017). This study will investigate how healthcare professional's communication during cervical screenings affects patient experiences, considering the broader sociopolitical context of women’s healthcare.
This study will recruit patients attending their routine cervical screening appointments and the practice nurses conducting these appointments. With patient and nurse consent, screening appointments will be audio-recorded and interviews will be conducted with nurses and patients to address the following questions:
1) What communication strategies are used by healthcare professionals during cervical screenings?
2) How do these strategies reflect societal norms and beliefs about women’s health?
3) How do patients interpret and experience this communication?
4) How do nurses approach their communication to screening appointments?
The data will be analysed using a Critical Discursive Psychology approach. Findings will inform recommendations to improve cervical screening communication, aiming to enhance patients’ experiences, increase attendance, and reduce psychological distress.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/EE/0031
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion