Exploring the lived experience of partners of women impacted by cervical cancer and the CervicalCheck screening failure in Ireland

Key Points

• The aim of the study was to explore partners’ experiences of cervical cancer and perspectives on the CervicalCheck controversy.

• Seven male partners of women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer following a false‐negative screening result were interviewed between May and July 2020.

• Thematic analysis was conducted on the data. Three superordinate themes were identified; the adverse impact of a cervical cancer diagnosis on partners; the unsatisfactory treatment of partners throughout the trajectory of cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment, and partners’ attitudes surrounding the CervicalCheck controversy.

• The findings highlight the unique challenges experienced by the partners of women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the impact of the CervicalCheck screening failure on partners.

• The findings also highlight the need for appropriate structures to be established within Ireland's health service to better support the informational and psychological needs of partners of women with cervical cancer.