The Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education has assumed patronage of the 4th edition of the social-educational campaign "In Women's Interest". This year, it takes place under the motto "We are not ruling it out, we are investigating in women's interests". and is aimed at all women, especially those with disabilities.
The aim of the "In Women's Interest" campaign has been unchanged since the beginning - to encourage women to visit the gynaecologist regularly and to educate them on how to overcome social and psychological barriers to regular health checks. The initiator and organiser of the campaign is Gedeon Richter Poland - a leader in women's health.
A survey* conducted in May and June 2022 among women with disabilities shows that 77% of them do not regularly go to a gynaecologist and 22% have never been to a gynaecologist in their lives.
64% admit that they happened to miss a visit, and they mainly cite the lack of adaptation of the infrastructure of the building or the equipment of the gynaecological surgery to their needs as the reason. However, as the most important aspects of a visit to a gynaecological specialist, female respondents point to the professional attitude of the medical staff (56%), the disability-appropriate equipment of the gynaecological surgery (50%) and the empathetic way in which the staff communicates (49%).
This year, a specially adapted mobile gynaecological surgery to accommodate ladies with various disabilities, including motor, visual or hearing impairments, will visit 10 towns and cities located in the Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Wielkopolskie Voivodeships, In July 2022, the surgery will offer free consultations by gynaecologists as well as gynaecological ultrasound, cytology with HPV test and breast examination.
A map of the localities and the dates of the tests can be found at www.wkobiecyminteresie.pl
The campaign will also be accompanied by educational materials for both patients and doctors available on the above-mentioned website. We warmly encourage you to view educational film for medical and peri-medical staff entitled 'The need for a medical professional'. "Patient with a disability at the gynaecologist, or a short guide to >>what and how<<".. The film was prepared by the Limping Warsaw Foundation and covers the most important aspects of a visit to a doctor by a person with disabilities - from the reception desk to the surgery. In an accessible manner, it advises and shows what to pay attention to in order to make the visit as easy as possible and how to communicate with the patient in a respectful and attentive manner.
* ARC Market and Opinions survey commissioned by Gedeon Richter Polska. May-June 2022, CAWI, N= 201 women with mobility, visual and hearing impairments.