An exploration of the barriers to cervical cancer screening amongst women aged 25-30 in the UK

Applications are invited for a PhD research student on a project investigating the perceived barriers and benefits to cervical cancer screening amongst women aged 25-30 in the UK. Recent research has found that the number of women under the age of 30 attending cervical screening has fallen to a 19-year low, with 1 in 3 women aged 25-30 not attending their screening appointment. Working with your supervisors, you will seek to understand the barriers to attending screening using qualitative and quantitative methodology, with the aim of determining the way forward in prevention and intervention strategies in this area. A long-term aim of this project is the design and implementation of an intervention to increase attendance at cervical screenings within this population.

Health Psychology explores how psychology, biology, behaviour and social factors are involved in health and illness. It focuses on health promotion and the prevention of disease, as well understanding how people react to, cope with and recover from illness. The University of Buckingham is currently active on research projects covering a wide range of topics within Health Psychology. We collaborate on projects and activities with other universities and organisations, both in the UK and abroad. You would join the Centre for Health and Relationships (CHR) Research Hub (www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/chr); a thriving research hub focusing upon research in five core areas: Pain, Social Support, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Spinal Cord Injury, and Health in Vulnerable Populations. 

Your first supervisor would be Dr Emily Mattacola (www.buckingham.ac.uk/directory/emily-mattacola/) whose research focuses on sexual, reproductive, and women’s health.