Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Female survivors of sexual assault may be at greater risk of cervical cancer than those with no such experience but are less likely to attend their cervical screening. This feasibility study evaluated a novel self-help intervention delivered via mobile app, designed to make cervical screening more a...

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Main Authors: Jane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy, Stuart Gibson PhD, Jill Zelin MBBCH, FRCOG, FSRH, Dawn Langdon MA, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPS, Jane Vosper BSc, MSc, PhD, DClinPsy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Patient Experience
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251343581
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author Jane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy
Stuart Gibson PhD
Jill Zelin MBBCH, FRCOG, FSRH
Dawn Langdon MA, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPS
Jane Vosper BSc, MSc, PhD, DClinPsy
author_facet Jane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy
Stuart Gibson PhD
Jill Zelin MBBCH, FRCOG, FSRH
Dawn Langdon MA, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPS
Jane Vosper BSc, MSc, PhD, DClinPsy
author_sort Jane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy
collection DOAJ
description Female survivors of sexual assault may be at greater risk of cervical cancer than those with no such experience but are less likely to attend their cervical screening. This feasibility study evaluated a novel self-help intervention delivered via mobile app, designed to make cervical screening more accessible by addressing barriers commonly experienced by this group. Participants accessed the intervention immediately (n = 15) or were allocated to a control group (n = 15). Measures of shame, self-compassion, self-efficacy related to cervical screening, and progress toward attendance were completed at baseline and after 7 weeks. Significantly more participants in the intervention group booked and completed a cervical screening compared to controls. A significant group × time interaction was found for self-efficacy with a large effect size. No significant interactions were found for shame or self-compassion. Feedback was generally positive. The app appeared to be a feasible and acceptable way of providing self-help materials and was successful in increasing some participants’ confidence in their ability to attend a cervical screening, and in some cases led to attendance. Further evaluation is needed.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
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spelling doaj-art-35d5f7e7d48d421c92f074c8447778e42025-08-20T03:27:29ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Patient Experience2374-37432025-07-011210.1177/23743735251343581Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual AssaultJane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy0Stuart Gibson PhD1Jill Zelin MBBCH, FRCOG, FSRH2Dawn Langdon MA, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPS3Jane Vosper BSc, MSc, PhD, DClinPsy4 Department of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK , London, UK , London, UK Department of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK , London, UKFemale survivors of sexual assault may be at greater risk of cervical cancer than those with no such experience but are less likely to attend their cervical screening. This feasibility study evaluated a novel self-help intervention delivered via mobile app, designed to make cervical screening more accessible by addressing barriers commonly experienced by this group. Participants accessed the intervention immediately (n = 15) or were allocated to a control group (n = 15). Measures of shame, self-compassion, self-efficacy related to cervical screening, and progress toward attendance were completed at baseline and after 7 weeks. Significantly more participants in the intervention group booked and completed a cervical screening compared to controls. A significant group × time interaction was found for self-efficacy with a large effect size. No significant interactions were found for shame or self-compassion. Feedback was generally positive. The app appeared to be a feasible and acceptable way of providing self-help materials and was successful in increasing some participants’ confidence in their ability to attend a cervical screening, and in some cases led to attendance. Further evaluation is needed.https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251343581
spellingShingle Jane Smallwood BSc, MSc, PGCert, DClinPsy
Stuart Gibson PhD
Jill Zelin MBBCH, FRCOG, FSRH
Dawn Langdon MA, MPhil, PhD, CPsychol, FBPS
Jane Vosper BSc, MSc, PhD, DClinPsy
Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Journal of Patient Experience
title Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
title_full Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
title_fullStr Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
title_full_unstemmed Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
title_short Making Cervical Screening More Accessible: A Compassion-Focused Self-Help Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Assault
title_sort making cervical screening more accessible a compassion focused self help intervention for survivors of sexual assault
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251343581
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