H E A L T H I N S I G H T S
Each year millions of pounds and countless hours are invested into finding a cure for cancer . The hope is that one day the cancers that now devastate families and take lives become a thing of the past .
Remarkably , just a few years ago we had such a breakthrough for cervical cancer – a disease that 1 in 142 women in the UK will be diagnosed with , and that contributes to around 850 deaths each year .
A landmark study proved that when the human papillomavirus ( HPV ) vaccine was administered to girls aged between 12 to 13 years old , the risk of them developing cervical cancer was reduced by 87.7 %.
The study , which harnessed data from 13.7 million women , also found that when vaccinated between 14 – 16 years old there was a 62 % reduction and a 34 % decrease for those who received the vaccination between the ages of 16 and 18 .
It ' s not every day that a proven route to reducing the risk of cancer is uncovered . And yet , in the same year that the research was announced , we saw vaccination rates decline – especially among those who could benefit the most – with a 7 % drop in girls aged 12 to 13 .
While the HPV vaccination is commissioned at a local level and delivered within secondary schools , primary care is also being called upon within the core contract to help capture any young women between the ages of 14 to 25 who may have slipped through the vaccination net .
As a GP I don ’ t want to let the opportunity pass by to play a part in reducing the risk of cervical cancer for any of my patients .
Dr Ian Wood , Clinical Director for EMIS , and practicing GP , explores the role technology can play to help primary care extend the reach of the HPV vaccination programme and in turn , help reduce cervical cancer rates .
With the use of technology , the process needn ’ t default to adding further strain to primary care and could enable local collaboration to play a much larger , more effective role in the vaccination programme – which ultimately , could prove to be lifesaving for patients .
Readily available technology could be deployed to surface unvaccinated patients to groups able and eager to address the gap in a personalised and targeted approach .
HOW SOFTWARE REDUCES CERVICAL CANCER RATES
THROUGH ENSURING FULL REACH OF THE HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMME
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