Philip Davies1, Diana Valuta2, Natalia Cojohari3, Helene Sancho-Garnier4. 1. European Cervical Cancer Association, 121 rue Jourdan, Brussels B-1060, Belgium. Electronic address: philip.davies@iccpa.info. 2. Department for Monitoring and Evaluation of Screening Programmes, National Health Insurance Agency, No. 12, Grigore Vieru Boulevard, Chisinau, MD 2005, Republic of Moldova. Electronic address: diana.valuta@cnam.gov.md. 3. United Nations Population Fund, No. 131, 31 August Street, Chisinau, MD 2012, Republic of Moldova. Electronic address: cojohari@unfpa.org. 4. Fondation JDB Prévention Cancer, 2-4 rue du Mont Louvet, Fontenay les Briis, 91640, France. Electronic address: helene.sancho-garnier@icm.unicancer.fr.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Successfully implementing cervical screening programmes requires them to be adapted to the local context and have broad stakeholder support. This can be achieved by actively engaging local stakeholders in planning as well as implementing the programmes. The Moldovan government started implementing an organised cervical screening programme in 2010 with the first step being stakeholder identification and engagement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This process started by contacting easily identified stakeholders with each asked to recommend others and the process continued until no new ones were identified. Stakeholders were then involved in a series of individual and group meetings over a 2-year period to build confidence and encourage progressively greater engagement. RESULTS: In total, 87 individuals from 46 organisations were identified. Over the 2-year process, the individual and group meetings facilitated a change in stakeholder attitudes from disinterest, to acceptance and finally to active cooperation in designing the screening programme and preparing an implementation plan that were both well adapted to the Moldovan context. DISCUSSION: Developing the broad support needed to implement cervical screening programmes required ongoing interaction with stakeholders over an extended period. This interaction allowed stakeholder concerns to be identified and addressed, progress to be demonstrated, and stakeholders to be educated about organised screening programmes so they had the knowledge to progressively take greater responsibility and ownership.
INTRODUCTION: Successfully implementing cervical screening programmes requires them to be adapted to the local context and have broad stakeholder support. This can be achieved by actively engaging local stakeholders in planning as well as implementing the programmes. The Moldovan government started implementing an organised cervical screening programme in 2010 with the first step being stakeholder identification and engagement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This process started by contacting easily identified stakeholders with each asked to recommend others and the process continued until no new ones were identified. Stakeholders were then involved in a series of individual and group meetings over a 2-year period to build confidence and encourage progressively greater engagement. RESULTS: In total, 87 individuals from 46 organisations were identified. Over the 2-year process, the individual and group meetings facilitated a change in stakeholder attitudes from disinterest, to acceptance and finally to active cooperation in designing the screening programme and preparing an implementation plan that were both well adapted to the Moldovan context. DISCUSSION: Developing the broad support needed to implement cervical screening programmes required ongoing interaction with stakeholders over an extended period. This interaction allowed stakeholder concerns to be identified and addressed, progress to be demonstrated, and stakeholders to be educated about organised screening programmes so they had the knowledge to progressively take greater responsibility and ownership.
Authors: Sabina B Gesell; Jacqueline R Halladay; Laurie H Mettam; Mysha E Sissine; B Lynette Staplefoote-Boynton; Pamela W Duncan Journal: J Clin Transl Sci Date: 2020-02-06