Students make cancer screening more accessible in neighbourhoods

Sending out an invitation letter about cancer screening may seem like an effective approach. But what if the recipient does not understand the letter or is unfamiliar with preventive cancer screening? Within the Screening the Neighbourhoods project, led by the Research Groups Relational Care and Urban Social Development, students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences, together with researchers and volunteers, are going into neighbourhoods to make breast and cervical cancer screening more accessible to women in vulnerable circumstances. This helps ensure that all residents can make an informed choice about whether to participate in preventive screening.

Not everyone is reached

Senior researcher Anita Ham sees making systems accessible to everyone as an important prerequisite for a just society. “We now have personalised medicines, but we do not yet have personalised systems. A just society also means having an inclusive healthcare system. Our research shows that, for various reasons, not everyone receives or understands the information in invitation letters for preventive cancer screening. That is when it is important to think and act differently.”

It is important that people in vulnerable circumstances are supported in making an informed choice.

People whose preferred language is not Dutch, as well as those struggling to make ends meet on a low income, are underrepresented in breast and cervical cancer screening programmes. Anita explains: “If we want to reduce health inequalities, it is important to support precisely those people in vulnerable circumstances in making an informed choice. Ultimately, women decide for themselves whether they want to participate in screening to detect cancer at an early stage.”

Into the neighbourhood with sixteen languages

The Screening the Neighbourhoods project started in 2023 with funding from ZonMw, based on a proposal from The Hague University of Applied Sciences’ Research Groups Urban Social Development and Relational Care. The project has now become firmly embedded in the university’s Oncology minor. Anita sees this as a major strength: “The Hague University of Applied Sciences has a highly diverse student population. Sometimes we go into neighbourhoods with HHs students and volunteers from Mammarosa, and between us we speak as many as 16 languages. This allows us to reach, inform and support a wide variety of people. In this way, we can improve access to preventive healthcare.”

Together, we are taking small steps towards a just society, with a significant impact on reducing health inequalities.

Small steps, big impact

According to Anita, the project appeals to students because everyone knows someone who has or has had cancer. Students are keen to contribute to a concrete project. “Together, we are taking small steps towards a just society, with a significant impact on reducing health inequalities.”

Connecting with existing networks

Screening the Neighbourhoods takes a community-based approach in The Hague. Teachers, researchers and students work together with women, volunteers and local organisations to map existing social networks. Anita explains: “We then connect with these social networks to better align our approach with women’s everyday lives and experiences. We know how to build connections, and this results in personal contact.”

“The success lies not only in what is done, but especially in how it is organised. This structure provides the foundation for working together on trust, influence and sustainable change. By connecting women’s lived experiences in the neighbourhood with scientific knowledge, a movement emerges within the community that is close, personal and sustainable. This is how we work together towards a just society,” Anita says.

Giving back to the community

“For sustainable changes in behaviour and health, it is important to actively involve people’s living environments and social networks,” Anita explains. “For example, we know how to connect with a Hindustani diabetes walking group and with the Participatiekeuken in the neighbourhood.”

So, in every sense, it is a win-win situation. “We are not only learning from the community; we also give something back. After all, this is about people’s own health.”

From The Hague to a wider approach

The approach developed through Screening the Neighbourhoods has not gone unnoticed. Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, the organisation responsible for the national population screening programmes in the Netherlands, has since contacted the project team. Anita explains: “We learn from and with each other by bringing together women, key community figures and partners in a learning community.” Anita: “Together with Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, Mammarosa and our students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we now want to make a long-term investment in this approach.”

The project is also expanding within The Hague University of Applied Sciences. In addition to its integration into the Oncology minor, there are plans to involve students from other programmes, such as Communication and Public Administration. The team is also exploring how the approach could be scaled up to other cities through sustainable collaborations with other universities of applied sciences, such as Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

The project has even attracted international interest. Anita says: “We have already been approached by an international project group working on this topic in Kenya. We are currently exploring how we could set up an international comparative study. There is a great deal we can learn from each other.”

Read more on the Screening the Neighbourhoods project page.