Professor Emma Pitchforth, Dr Joanne Morrison, and Victoria Cullimore explain the process behind Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) on their recent study, Postnatal Intervention for Cervical Screening. This work was supported by our 2025-6 Engaged and Participatory Research Fund, to help the research team gain lived experience perspectives ahead of the next phase of the project.
Amount of award – £5125
The PINCS (Postnatal Intervention for Cervical Screening) study is focused on improving cervical screening options for people after having a baby. Cervical cancer is most common in women and people with a cervix aged 30–35, which overlaps with the average age of childbirth. Despite this, many people find it difficult to attend cervical screening appointments during the postnatal period. Our research, conducted between Somerset Foundation Trust, the University of Exeter, Royal Cornwall and Royal Devon University Hospitals, explores whether screening could be made easier and more accessible for new parents, for example by offering screening alongside the routine 6-week postnatal check or through self-sampling options. The aim is to identify practical ways to improve screening uptake and reduce cervical cancer risk, and from itsoutset, patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) was a central part of the project.
Engaged and Participatory Research funding enabled us to work directly with parents of young babies to understand their experiences through a series of discussion groups. The first took place at a mother and baby group in rural Devon, giving us the opportunity to speak with women face-to-face about their views on cervical screening after birth. We then held four online discussion groups, advertised through maternity social media networks to reach a wider range of people. More than 100 people volunteered to take part, demonstrating that there is a strong public interest in research focused on postnatal health. These discussions explored barriers to attending cervical screening appointments, as well as participating in related research.
We also sought feedback on our study plans, participant information and recruitment approach, which had a direct impact on the design of the PINCS study. Parents provided practical suggestions that helped make the research more accessible and relevant.
As a result of their feedback, we:
- revised study documentation to make it clearer and easier to understand
- developed an information and recruitment video
- highlighted support available to participants, including free parking and reimbursement
- refined our recruitment strategy to better reflect the realities of caring for a 6 or 12-week-old baby.
The PPIE work strengthened the study aims, improved feasibility and helped ensure participation was realistic for new parents. Many people valued the opportunity to contribute to this type of research, highlighting the importance of involving people with lived experience of childbirth and cervical screening as research partners.
Considering that the focus of our research was on developing more accessible screening options for people in the postnatal period, one of our biggest challenges was designing involvement activities that were accessible to this target audience. Online discussion groups proved particularly valuable, enabling people from different locations to participate around caring responsibilities and helping us reach a broader range of perspectives. It was clear to us that early involvement leads to better research. By engaging parents before recruitment began, we identified barriers that might otherwise have reduced research participation. Their feedback challenged our assumptions and helped us focus on what would genuinely make the study easier to access.
This PPIE work has positioned us strongly for the next phase of the project. We have now begun recruiting for a second study with a target of 100 participants. Looking ahead, we have used the findings from both studies to co-design a larger trials with new parents and other stakeholders. Through this work we have also identified people with lived experience willing to get involved in co-production of research in this and other projects related to gynaecological reproductive health.
Ultimately, we hope this programme of research will generate the evidence needed to influence cervical screening policy and improve access to screening for postnatal people. The enthusiasm shown by new parents throughout the project has reinforced the value of working in partnership – their experiences have hugely strengthened the research and will continue to shape future studies.
Photography credit – James Ram