Why are autistic people less likely to have smear tests?

Why are autistic people less likely to go for smear tests to help prevent them getting cervical cancer than non-autistic people?

This under-researched area is the subject of a new study by scientists at Swansea University with funding from Cancer Research Wales.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women aged under 35 in Wales.

Currently, only 69 per cent of people across the wider population who are eligible for screening in Wales get tested.

But there's no information available about how many eligible autistic people in Wales go for smear tests.

Half of autistic people going for smear tests

Anecdotal evidence suggests the figure is low and research from Sweden shows that just over half of autistic people (50.6 per cent) there take part in cervical screening.

Failure to attend smear tests increases the risk of people dying from cancer.

Now, the team at Swansea University, headed up by Dr Aimee Grant, will be looking in detail at take-up of cervical screening in Wales among autistic people.

The research will investigate why cervical screening programmes appear to not be meeting the needs of autistic people.

Scientists will be working with autistic people and health professionals across Wales to identify ways to address the problem.

Dr Aimee Grant, Associate Professor in Public Health at Swansea University, who is heading up the research said: "As an autistic person, I know how hard it is for autistic people to go for smear tests and that's also something that's come up when I ask other autistic people about their experiences.

"What's really shocking is the idea that about only half of autistic people appear to have ever had a smear test. This is really important because smear tests can find problems early so they can be treated before they turn into cancer."

Dr Grant's research project will look at existing research to ask why cervical screening services are not meeting the needs of autistic people and carry out a Wales-wide survey.

Their team will also work with and consult autistic people and health professionals to increase knowledge and confidence in smear tests.

Making it easier for autistic people to go for a smear test

"Our new project will ask what can be done to make it easier for autistic people to go for a smear test. We'll think about everything from the letters people get in the post, to booking a smear and what happens during the test," said Dr Grant.

"We're also doing this study at exactly the right time. For people who don't go for their smear test, soon in Wales they'll be asked to do a self-test at home, but nobody has asked autistic people what they think about this yet."

Dr Grant's funding is one of 20 projects that Cancer Research Wales is announcing as part of its latest £2.86 million investment in world-class cancer research projects in Wales.

The funding package is the largest that the Welsh cancer research charity has ever announced in its 60-year history.

Cancer Research Wales's largest ever funding announcement

Adam Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Research Wales said: "It's my privilege today to be able to announce this latest round of cancer research funding from Cancer Research Wales, our largest ever investment announcement, to help drive innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatments in Wales so that we can bring better treatments closer to home and provide hope for people here who are affected by cancer.

"Dr Aimee Grant's project is one that we are particularly proud to be able to fund as it is an under-researched area of work, and it is one we are very confident will bring about significant and life-prolonging changes to autistic people, their families and loved ones across Wales."