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The Role of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners in Reducing Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening: A Literature Review
Abstract
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer (CC) are caused by persistent infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can play a greater role in preventing the disease. CC remains the second most prevalent carcinoma among women and in 2017, Canada’s screening rates were off target by 19 percent. Complex, multifactorial barriers affect women’s participation in cervical cancer screening (CCS). The most common barriers to screening are directly linked to disparities within determinants of health, including: belonging to a minority ethnic group, low socioeconomic status, lack of education, and lack of access to healthcare. NPs can reduce these barriers by providing innovative, evidence-based, culturally competent female-friendly care while building trusting relationships with patients. The objective of this literature review is to summarize barriers to CCS and what role the Canadian NP has in reducing them.
Keywords:Â cervical cancer, cancer screening, nurse practitioner, barriers
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