Pap screening clinics with native women in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii - Need for innovation

PROBLEM ADDRESSED First Nations women in British Columbia, especially elder s, are underscreened for cancer of the cervix compared with the general pop ulation and are much more likely to die of the disease than other women. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM To develop a pilot program, in consultation with commu nity representatives, to address the Pap screening needs of First Nations w omen 40 years and older on a rural reserve. MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM Identification of key links to the population; c onsultation with the community to design an outreach process; identificatio n of underscreened women; implementation of community Pap screening clinics ; evaluation of the pilot program. CONCLUSIONS We developed a Pap screening outreach program that marked a dep arture from the usual screening approach in the community. First Nations co mmunity health representatives were key links for the process that involved family physicians and office staff at a local clinic on a rural reserve. P articipation rate for the pilot program was 48%, resulting in an increase o f 15% over the previously recorded screening rate for this population. More screening clinics of this type and evaluation for sustainability are propo sed.