RESEARCH UNDERWAY

Updated May 2006

Optimising access for women with disabilities to mammography screening

Project team

University of Sydney

Prof Gwynnyth Llewellyn
Assoc Prof Susan Balandin
Dr Ann Poulos
Dr Louella McCarthy
Leigha Dark

Overview

This study, funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Kathleen Cuningham Research Grant, brings an innovative multidisciplinary perspective to the challenge of overcoming the barriers to mammography screening experienced by Australian women with disabilities. Blending the methodological insights from the health and social sciences with oral history, the study aims to determine the nature of the barriers for women with disabilities participating in mammography screening and to design strategies for overcoming them. BreastScreen NSW has endorsed this research project and is cooperating with the researchers to ensure the service is widely accessible.

Approach

The study has three phases to be undertaken over three years. Phase 1: Determining women’s experiences of mammography screening (in progress) In the first phase the project is conducting in-depth interviews, in a private and safe situation, to understand the breast screening experiences of women with disabilities. The semi-structured interviews are audio-taped, and seek to uncover the variety of women’s experiences of and responses to health care issues, and the ways these contribute to attitudes about mammography screening. Each interview transcript is uniquely coded to protect the confidentiality and anonymity of participants. Phase 2: Radiographic staff responses to the women’s data Barriers to and facilitators of participation raised by the women will be presented to radiography and administrative staff from BreastScreen NSW brought together in focus groups in the second phase of the study. In these focus groups, radiographers will be given the opportunity to explore their own experience of these issues; to share difficulties encountered and solutions devised in a collegial and professional setting. Phase 3: In situ analyses of the screening environment The third phase is the point at which the ideas and solutions proposed by the first two phases will be assessed. Using in situ analysis, women from phase 1 will be invited to attend an individualised mammographic screening session through BreastScreen NSW. Each participant will be accompanied by qualified research team members in order to analyse the nature and extent of the barriers in the screening environment.

Anticipated Outcomes

This study aims to deepen the understanding of the informational needs of women with disabilities regarding mammography screening and to identify gaps in the provision of mammography screening to these women. Achieving these aims will enable 1. development of workable solutions to the barriers women facie in accessing breast screening 2. facilitate a greater awareness of the needs of women with disabilities by radiographic staff

Related Links

BreastScreen NSW.
BreastScreen NSW is a free breast screening service for women aged 50–69 years. This government funded service aims to detect breast cancer in its early stages, when treatment can be most effective. BreastScreen NSW has a network of local services across NSW including 37 regional centres and 13 screening vans which continually tour and service remote areas and specific communities within NSW www.bsnsw.org.au

National Breast Cancer Foundation.
In partnership with the Australian community the National Breast Cancer Foundation is leading the pursuit for new knowledge in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. www.nbcf.org.au

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA).
WWDA is a national voice for the needs and rights of women with disabilities and a national force to improve the lives and life chances of women with disabilities. www.wwda.org.au

Related Publications

Balandin, S. and J. Morgan (1997). Adults with cerebral palsy: What's happening? Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 22(2): 109-124.

Balandin, S., A. Dew, G. Llewellyn and H. Kendig (2003). Health care experiences of people with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs,. AGOSCI Something to Say, Sydney, AGOSCI.

Llewellyn, G., D. McConnell and R. Mayes (2003). Health of mothers with intellectual limitations,Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 27: 17-19.

Llewellyn, G., S. Balandin , A. Poulos and A. Dew, 2003, Pilot survey of the 10 BreastScreen NSW Screening and Assessment Centres. Unpublished paper, available from Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney.

Moreira, C., K. Svoboda, A. Poulos and R. Taylor (2002). Comparison of the Validity and Reliability of Two Image Classification Systems for the Assessment of Mammogram Quality.

Poulos, Ann and Gwynnyth Llewellyn (2005). Mammography discomfort: a holistic perspective derived from women's experiences. Radiography 11(1): 17-25.

Conference Presentations

Llewellyn, Gwynnyth, Experiences of Mammography Screening: from both sides of the screen, ASSID Conference, Auckland NZ, 10-13 October 2005.

McCarthy, Louella, Women’s business? using oral history in health care. Dancing with memory: oral history and its audiences, XIVth International Oral History Conference, Sydney, June 2006.