Dr Nicholas Clarke, Senior Research Fellow and lecturer at the School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has conducted research which was funded by the HSE National Screening Service through the Women’s Health Fund. The research seeks to better understand why some women living in lower socio-economic areas choose not to take part in bowel screening. The study suggests that approaches to improving participation could include:

• Stronger recommendations from trusted healthcare professionals, including GPs and pharmacists;
• Addressing the belief that people who feel healthy or have no symptoms do not need screening;
• Greater integration of bowel screening messages with breast and cervical screening programmes;
• Additional reminders which address knowledge and emotional barriers; and
• Using the experiences of other people to help build confidence in completing the test.

The research has been published in Psycho-Oncology and is available via onlinelibrary.wiley.com by searching “A Qualitative Exploration of the Decision Not to Take Part in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Women Living in Lower Socio-Economic Areas”. The National Screening Service has published an update on the research, available at www2.healthservice.hse.ie/organisation/nss > Latest news and updates > 02 October 2026.