Breaking Barriers in Health Care

Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) is leading the way as the first Indigenous health and wellness organization in Canada to offer innovative cancer screening options for women and people with a cervix.

Routine health screening is an important way to monitor your health and ensure you continue to live a life of wellness. For women and people with a cervix, routine check-ups currently include a Pap test every three years. However, there are many barriers to this type of screening. As of 2019, CSFS is acknowledging these barriers by offering community members a different option for cervical cancer screening using self-collected swabs, which are available at community health centres. This alternative option for screening is a low-barrier approach that is putting screening into the hands of community members, and is working to address higher rates of cervical cancer and pre-cancer in Indigenous Peoples compared to non-Indigenous.

This alternative way of screening has been well-received and responses to a survey from participants indicate this is a preferred method. Participants say the “process was easier, faster, and less embarrassing”, that it was “more easy, less painful and more private” and “was a quicker process than seeing a doctor in person and requires no appointment, so I can do it in my free time”.

CSFS has recently been invited to be one of the first organizations in the province to offer this screening as an ongoing health service, rather than a research pilot project. This is an exciting opportunity that reflects CSFS health services, infrastructure, and teams. Travis Holyk, CSFS Executive Director of Health Services, often says that “research is a pathway towards health innovation and improvement.” We are so excited to share that what began as research is now being implemented as a health service.

To celebrate this change, we interviewed Charlotte Wenninger, CSFS Medical Office Administrator, to hear her thoughts on this exciting opportunity.

Why is this project and method for screening important?

This project is important because it will decrease cancer rates as it helps the women in our communities get access to screening. There are barriers with Pap tests, and with self-collection we are hoping that barriers are reduced.

How is this project different than other research projects CSFS has done?

I think it is unique because of the longevity. We have been offering this service for three years. This project has rolled out seamlessly because of monthly meetings and check-ins with the project team and CSFS health staff. This project has sustained itself with enthusiastic and passionate team members since the beginning. We are so excited that this project has paved the way for this type of screening to be offered as ongoing patient care.

What about this project was successful?

Offering women and people with a cervix an alternative screening method that does not include a pelvic exam. We are happy with the number of people we have screened. It was successful because of the resources and team available to support the project with updating supplies, having swabs available and offering training to newly hired CSFS staff. We were so fortunate to have Dr. Sheona Mitchell-Foster, a gynecologist, as available as just a phone call away.

What have you learned from this project as an organization and how you provide primary care?

What we have learned is to be open to something completely different. There was some initial hesitancy around implementing a project like this and how this work could be perceived. We learned the importance of talking to community members before anything like this is to be rolled out. It was essential to host meetings and round-table discussions with community members, create space for discussions and questions, and ask community members how to offer this screening in their community. There was an importance placed on ongoing conversations throughout the project and space for feedback. We are so pleased that it will continue as a health service offered by CSFS.

Congratulations to CSFS and all the hardworking health and wellness staff who have contributed to making this new and exciting opportunity a reality. If you would like to participate, or get more information on this type of screening, please feel free to speak with the doctor, nurse or medical office assistant at your local health centre. For more information you may call BC Cancer Cervix Screening at 1-877-702-6566.