Healthcare Providers´ Views on Cervical Screening: A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Cervical Screening in Malaysia

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer affecting Malaysian women despite being highly preventable through screening. A national cervical cancer screening program has been established since 1969 to ensure early detection of cervical cancer. Nonetheless, the prevalence of cervical cancer in Malaysia remains high. Malaysia has been offering Pap tests for free in community health clinics since 1995, however only 47.3% of women have been screened. It has also been reported that nearly 40% of patients with cervical cancer presented at advanced stages of the disease. Government community healthcare professionals are the main stakeholders in the national cervical screening program. Therefore, understanding these healthcare professionals’ perspective of barriers associated with underutilization of cervical cancer screening is key to increase overall screening uptake. Aim: This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ views on perceived barriers to cervical screening in Malaysia. Methods: Qualitative in-depth semistructured interviews were carried out with 44 primary healthcare professionals consisting of family medicine specialists (N = 5), medical officers (N = 9), matrons and nurses (N = 20), laboratory technician (N = 5), registration staff and IT technicians (N = 5) involved in the cervical screening program at 5 different urban government healthcare clinics in Petaling district. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Themes emerged were individual and system barriers. Individual barriers include knowledge/risk perception (lack of knowledge and awareness of cervical screening, low perceived risk), distress (Pap test is embarrassing or painful, previous negative Pap test experience and fear of a cancer diagnosis) and coping skills (remembering the appointment, managing responsibilities such as getting child care/elder care/coverage at work, ability to get transportation), social-cultural barrier (family support); while system barriers highlight the long waiting time for cervical screening, poor documentation, no national call-recall system, patient overload, lack of resources and manpower, lack of educational materials and problems with opportunistic screening. Conclusion: Sustainable screening interventions require approaches that address and resolve both individual and system barriers, such as exploring new methods and delivery of cervical screening, and providing education for the public and healthcare providers.