Cervical Cancer Screening among International Medical Students of Rīga Stradiņš University: Knowledge and Experience
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Date
2022
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Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte
Rīga Stradiņš University
Rīga Stradiņš University
Abstract
Īpaši sievietes migrantes ir neiazsargātas pret dzemdes kakla vēzi, jo viņām ir zemāks dalības līmenis dzemdes kakla skrīninga programmās salīdzinājumā ar sievietēm, kuras nav migrantes. Vairākos publicētajos pētījumos ir apskatīti iespējamie šķēršļi, ar kuriem saskaras migrantes, un kā palielināt skrīninga rādītājus šajā grupā. Šie pētījumi tika apskatīti šī studentu zinātniskā darba literatūras apskata daļā.
Šī pētījuma mērķis ir noskaidrot Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes ārzemju medicīnas studentu sieviešu zināšanas un pieredzi par dzemdes kakla vēža skrīningu. Darba hipotēze ir, ka pētījuma dalībnieces veic dzemdes kakla vēžu skrīningu savās mītnes zemēs, jo tas ir vieglāk realizējams un viņām nav izprotama Latvijas skrīninga sistēma. Galvenais akcents šajā studentu pētnieciskajā darbā tiek vērsts uz iespējamiem šķēršļiem, ar kuriem dalībnieces ir saskārušās, un viņu ieteikumiem, kā tos varētu mazināt. Darba metodē ir izmantots kvalitatīvā pētijuma dizains ar daļēji strukturētu interviju.
Pētījums atklāja labas vispārējās zināšanas par dzemdes kakla vēža riska faktoriem un simptomiem. Visas dalībnieces bija veikušas dzmdes kakla vēža skrīningu. Tomēr visas, izņemot vienu, skrīningu bija viekušas savās mītnes valstīs. Kā galvenais šķērslis, kāpēc respondentes neveic skrīningu Latvijā tika uzsvērts zināšanu trūkums par Latvijas dzemdes kakla vēža skrīninga programmu. Turklāt, dalībniecēm vieglāk bija veikt skrīningu pazīstamā veselības aprūpes sistēmā, savā mītnes valstī. Interviju laikā tika apspriesti vairāki ieteikumi, kā varētu palielināt ārvalstu studentu līdzdalības līmeni. Kā piemērui tika minēti semināri, universitātes organizētas skrīninga dienas un informācijas sniegšana ginekoloģijas cikla laikā. Kā arī, tika ierosināts internacionālos studentus iekļaut Latvijas valsts skrīninga programmā.
Pētījumā secināts, ka Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes medicīnas studentes jau ir veikušas vismaz vienu dzemdes kakla vēža skrīningu. Tomēr, dažādu šķēršļu dēļ, dalībnieces ir izvēlējušas veikt skrīningu savās mītnes valstīs. Jāturpina darbs, lai risinātu studentu bažas par skrīninga pakalpojumu un lai nodrošinātu, ka praktiski šķēršļi nekavē dalību dzemdes kakla vēža skrīninga programmā.
Particularly migrant women are vulnerable to cervical cancer as they have lower participation rates in cervical screening compared to non-migrant women. Several published studies have investigated potential barriers migrant women face and how to increase the screening rate in this group. The studies will be discussed in the literature review part of the thesis. In this research, the aim of the study is to investigate the knowledge and experience of cervical cancer screening among international female medical students of Riga Stradins University. The hypothesis of the thesis is that the participants perform their cervical screening in their home countries because they are unfamiliar with the health-care system in Latvia. The focus of the research will be on potential barriers the participants have encountered and their suggestions on how to reduce these. Qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews were used as the method for the research. The study revealed good general knowledge about the risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer. All the participants had performed cervical cancer screening. However, all except one had performed the screening in their home countries. The study highlighted the lack of knowledge about the Latvian cervical screening program as the main barrier. In addition, it was more practical for the participants to do the cervical cancer screening in a familiar health-care system in their home country. Several specific suggestions on how to increase the participation rate among international students were discussed during the interviews. Examples were to have seminars, screening days arranged by the university and to provide information during the Gynaecology course. In addition, it was proposed to include international students in the national screening program of Latvia. The conclusion of the study was that international medical students of Riga Stradins University have performed cervical cancer screening. However due to different barriers, the participants have performed the screening in their home countries. More needs to be done to address the concerns regarding the screening service for students and to ensure that practical barriers do not prevent participation in the cervical cancer screening program.
Particularly migrant women are vulnerable to cervical cancer as they have lower participation rates in cervical screening compared to non-migrant women. Several published studies have investigated potential barriers migrant women face and how to increase the screening rate in this group. The studies will be discussed in the literature review part of the thesis. In this research, the aim of the study is to investigate the knowledge and experience of cervical cancer screening among international female medical students of Riga Stradins University. The hypothesis of the thesis is that the participants perform their cervical screening in their home countries because they are unfamiliar with the health-care system in Latvia. The focus of the research will be on potential barriers the participants have encountered and their suggestions on how to reduce these. Qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews were used as the method for the research. The study revealed good general knowledge about the risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer. All the participants had performed cervical cancer screening. However, all except one had performed the screening in their home countries. The study highlighted the lack of knowledge about the Latvian cervical screening program as the main barrier. In addition, it was more practical for the participants to do the cervical cancer screening in a familiar health-care system in their home country. Several specific suggestions on how to increase the participation rate among international students were discussed during the interviews. Examples were to have seminars, screening days arranged by the university and to provide information during the Gynaecology course. In addition, it was proposed to include international students in the national screening program of Latvia. The conclusion of the study was that international medical students of Riga Stradins University have performed cervical cancer screening. However due to different barriers, the participants have performed the screening in their home countries. More needs to be done to address the concerns regarding the screening service for students and to ensure that practical barriers do not prevent participation in the cervical cancer screening program.
Description
Medicīna
Medicine
Veselības aprūpe
Health Care
Medicine
Veselības aprūpe
Health Care
Keywords
Dzemdes kakla vēža skrīnings, starptautiskie medicīnas studenti, sieviešu veselības aprūpe, Cervical cancer screening, international medical students, female health-care