{"title":"Transgender Men's and Non-Binary People's Experiences of Cervical Cancer Screening-A Journey Mapping Approach.","authors":"Max Kleijberg, Lars E Eriksson","doi":"10.1111/jocn.70113","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research indicates various barriers to cervical cancer screening for transgender people, contributing to cancer inequities. Further research is required to better understand how these barriers affect experiences along the screening trajectory, from engaging with information, through invitation and testing, to receiving test results. Research exploring how transgender people navigate these barriers is also required.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the experiences of cervical cancer screening in Sweden among transgender people who were assigned female at birth, and to identify touchpoints in need of improvement along the cervical cancer screening trajectory.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Qualitative interview study inspired by journey mapping.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews (n = 18) and interpretive description analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five phases were identified comprising participants' cervical cancer screening journey, with touchpoints in each phase indicating key experiences, barriers, and strategies to navigate barriers. Experiences of touchpoints were affected by four interrelated dimensions: The embodied person-personal gender identity, relationship with own body, and transition process; System factors-policies, routines, and practices; Gender norms and transphobia; and Prior healthcare experiences. Significant barriers included a lack of trans-specific screening information; an invitation system that does not automatically invite male-registered individuals with a cervix; lack of trans competency among clinics and staff; female-centred clinics; gender dysphoria; anticipation or fear of being mistreated; distrust of healthcare authorities; and participant-staff power dynamics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To make cervical cancer screening more equitable for transgender people, barriers need to be addressed by considering the four dimensions that affect these barriers.</p><p><strong>Implications for the profession and/or patient care: </strong>Findings show that staff involved in policy and clinical practice can improve transgender people's experiences of cervical cancer screening by promoting agency and self-determination in each screening phase. This involves providing inclusive information, continuing invitations for male-registered individuals with a cervix, enhancing trans-competency, and addressing power dynamics in staff-participant interactions.</p><p><strong>Reporting method: </strong>The Standards of Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).</p><p><strong>Patient or public contribution: </strong>Representatives from the Regional Cancer Centre Stockholm-Gotland were involved in the conceptualisation of this study. Representatives from trans and LGBTQI+ organisations, Regional Cancer Centres, and the National Board of Health and Welfare have provided feedback during the analysis and writing phases.</p>","PeriodicalId":50236,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.70113","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Research indicates various barriers to cervical cancer screening for transgender people, contributing to cancer inequities. Further research is required to better understand how these barriers affect experiences along the screening trajectory, from engaging with information, through invitation and testing, to receiving test results. Research exploring how transgender people navigate these barriers is also required.
Aim: To explore the experiences of cervical cancer screening in Sweden among transgender people who were assigned female at birth, and to identify touchpoints in need of improvement along the cervical cancer screening trajectory.
Design: Qualitative interview study inspired by journey mapping.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 18) and interpretive description analysis.
Results: Five phases were identified comprising participants' cervical cancer screening journey, with touchpoints in each phase indicating key experiences, barriers, and strategies to navigate barriers. Experiences of touchpoints were affected by four interrelated dimensions: The embodied person-personal gender identity, relationship with own body, and transition process; System factors-policies, routines, and practices; Gender norms and transphobia; and Prior healthcare experiences. Significant barriers included a lack of trans-specific screening information; an invitation system that does not automatically invite male-registered individuals with a cervix; lack of trans competency among clinics and staff; female-centred clinics; gender dysphoria; anticipation or fear of being mistreated; distrust of healthcare authorities; and participant-staff power dynamics.
Conclusion: To make cervical cancer screening more equitable for transgender people, barriers need to be addressed by considering the four dimensions that affect these barriers.
Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Findings show that staff involved in policy and clinical practice can improve transgender people's experiences of cervical cancer screening by promoting agency and self-determination in each screening phase. This involves providing inclusive information, continuing invitations for male-registered individuals with a cervix, enhancing trans-competency, and addressing power dynamics in staff-participant interactions.
Reporting method: The Standards of Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).
Patient or public contribution: Representatives from the Regional Cancer Centre Stockholm-Gotland were involved in the conceptualisation of this study. Representatives from trans and LGBTQI+ organisations, Regional Cancer Centres, and the National Board of Health and Welfare have provided feedback during the analysis and writing phases.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN) is an international, peer reviewed, scientific journal that seeks to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that is directly relevant to all spheres of nursing practice. The primary aim is to promote a high standard of clinically related scholarship which advances and supports the practice and discipline of nursing. The Journal also aims to promote the international exchange of ideas and experience that draws from the different cultures in which practice takes place. Further, JCN seeks to enrich insight into clinical need and the implications for nursing intervention and models of service delivery. Emphasis is placed on promoting critical debate on the art and science of nursing practice.
JCN is essential reading for anyone involved in nursing practice, whether clinicians, researchers, educators, managers, policy makers, or students. The development of clinical practice and the changing patterns of inter-professional working are also central to JCN''s scope of interest. Contributions are welcomed from other health professionals on issues that have a direct impact on nursing practice.
We publish high quality papers from across the methodological spectrum that make an important and novel contribution to the field of clinical nursing (regardless of where care is provided), and which demonstrate clinical application and international relevance.