The COMET Project

High participation is essential for cancer screening programmes to achieve their full public health impact. However, we know that some groups are at a disadvantage and their participation remains low. A new research initiative, the COMET project, implemented as part of the Flemish population-based cervical cancer screening programme, will examine whether HPV self-sampling can help improve cervical cancer screening participation among women with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, one of the most underserved groups in current screening programmes.

Addressing Inequalities

Earlier findings from the Centre for Cancer Detection showed that women with intellectual disabilities in Flanders are significantly less likely to attend screening, with participation rates dropping further as the severity of disability increases. The gap underline ongoing inequalities in access to preventive healthcare, that exist in Belgium as well as the EU. The COMET project aims to address this by testing more accessible screening approaches, in line with Belgium’s commitment to equal healthcare access under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The CUPID Project

Relatedly, CvKO was also co-author in: “Cancer screening for people with intellectual disabilities: Evidence from a global scoping review within the EUCansScreen Joint Action” onwhich an oral presentation will be given by the WP 6.5 leader, the German Cancer Society in the CUPID (Cancer Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities) at the Cupid Project’s final conference taking place in Brussels at the end of June.