News
Survey reveals poor awareness of HPV-related cancer risk
Research commissioned by Roche and carried out across 12 countries in Latin America and Europe has revealed that half of those polled have either limited or no awareness of the important role human papillomavirus (HPV) plays in cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus transmitted through sexual contact and is the primary cause of cervical cancer, responsible for over 99% of cases. However, 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented entirely through appropriate screening and HPV vaccination. The research also demonstrated that with
screening rates varying between regions, significant barriers continue to exist that are preventing women from seeking testing. Respondents in all countries, including both developed and developing nations, reported that concerns about the testing procedure being painful were common (up to 63% in some countries), as well as a sense of discomfort about discussing their sexual history or sexuality with a healthcare provider (up to 57% in some countries). “Thousands of women are needlessly dying from cervical cancer every year. This survey highlights some of the most important barriers to screening, as well as the opportunities we have to prevent disease and improve women’s health, ” said Joanna Sickler, Vice-President, Health Policy and External Affairs at Roche Diagnostics. “With many women reporting being open to
new screening tools like self-collection, it has never been more important that communities, health systems, governments and innovators come together to seize this opportunity, and provide the early detection and treatment needed to avoid so many preventable deaths.” The WHO is focused on accelerating the
elimination of cervical cancer globally, with its latest guidelines recommending HPV DNA testing as primary screening for all women. Its strategy seeks to ensure that by 2030, 90% of girls are fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15. It also aims for 70% of women to have been screened using a high- performance test by age 35, and again by age 45, with 90% of those eligible linked to treatment. This, along with vaccination against HPV, could prevent more than 62 million deaths in the next 100 years. More than 50% of new cervical cancers occur in women who have never been screened, or have not been screened in the previous five years of their lives. Many factors can contribute to individuals not participating in cervical cancer screening programmes, such as access to healthcare, social and economic barriers, history of traumatic experience, cultural concerns and embarrassment. The many barriers preventing women from seeking HPV screening could explain the widespread interest in self-testing revealed by the survey. In European countries, where testing is more routinely available, 57% of women were interested in the opportunity to collect their own samples for testing. This figure rose to 77% in Latin American countries, where routine screening is less readily available because of a lack of infrastructure and available appointment means. Men demonstrated even lower levels of
awareness compared to women, particularly in Europe. While 55% to 76% of men in Latin America reported some understanding of HPV, only 35% to 51% of men in Europe had any understanding of HPV at all. The lower awareness among men highlights the need for educational initiatives to include men, given their potential role in the transmission and prevention of HPV.
Reducing brain injury in childbirth
NHS maternity staff in England will take part in a new pilot programme to help reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth, the government has announced. The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) pilot is launching across nine maternity units at NHS Trusts and aims to improve maternity outcomes for women and babies. The programme will help maternity staff to
better identify signs that the baby is showing distress during labour so they can act quickly. It will also help staff deal with important obstetric emergencies that occur where the baby’s head becomes lodged deep in the mother’s pelvis during a caesarean birth.
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I November 2024 The ABC programme aims to improve clinical
practice, communication and care for women and families and result in better outcomes and experiences, while reducing variation and inequality of care. The most recent data from the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit at Imperial College London shows around 2,490 babies received at least one episode of care for a brain injury during or after birth (in 2021) equating to 4.2 per 1,000 live births. The programme could be rolled out nationally next year if the pilot is successful. The scheme is also expected to reduce the rising cost of clinical negligence.
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Virtual conference on tackling AMR
The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) is marking International Pathology Day on Wednesday 6 November with a day-long virtual conference looking at the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). RCPath will be welcoming Prof. Dame Sally
Davies, the UK’s Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, as a special guest at the conference. She will open the conference in a discussion alongside Dr. Bernie Croal, College President and Dr. Noha El Sakka OBE, Vice President for Communications. This discussion will emphasise the critical importance of international collaboration and adopting a One Health approach. See full details and book your place at:
www.rcpath.org/international/projects/ international-pathology-day.html
Getinge elevates service with connected devices
Building on over 15 years of experience in connected devices, Getinge has announced the launch of FleetView. This web application represents the next step in data-driven device lifecyle management, offering healthcare providers and life science companies a tool to navigate large amounts of service data and statistical insights. Accessed from any web-enabled computer, tablet, or smartphone, FleetView’s user-friendly interface provides service data, remote troubleshooting with expert support, and the scheduling of the requested maintenance. This helps ensure that life-saving equipment is ready for action when needed, across all hospital areas – from sterile reprocessing and the operating room to intensive care, as well as in life science. For specific products, such as in anesthesia, the system provides the opportunity to reduce the hospital’s environmental footprint by e.g., delivering insights on anesthetic agent and gas consumption.
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