Cancer screening among people with disabilities: practices and specific problems in centres for disabled adults

Summary Aims: The aims of this study are to know the practices of entres for adults with disabilities in cancer screening, to identify their knowledge on the subject and the difficulties encountered in reaching these screenings, and finally to emerge possible training needs of staff-relay. Methods: 28 interviews with manager or/and staff in charge of screening have been performed in 15% of institutions for adults with disabilities in Provence, Alps and C te d'Azur french region. Results: Behavioural disorders that affect some of the residents make difficult to meet the screening, and sometimes lead to their failure to achieve, or the establishment of replacement examination. The low medicalization of these institutions is also a hindrance. Half of the establishments could not perform screening mammography for all residents involved. 3/4 of these institutions were not in capacity to achieve the Hemoccult II test for all their residents age 50 and older. Educative staff is not rained or psychologically ready for this new mission, due to aging residents. Training programs for such employees, however, are wished by the managers interviewed. Conclusion: To find its place in these adults centres, an adapted protocol for screening disabled people in institution could be developed. Tools accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, to explain cancer and its screening, could be achieved. It is also access to care and, at last, hospitalization that had to be adapted to disability. Prat Organ Soins. 2011;42(4):245-53