From barriers to participation: co-creating an effective reminder letter for breast cancer screening among underserved women in Flanders.

Summary: Breast cancer is a major health problem worldwide, but many women in low-income areas miss out on life-saving screenings. In Flanders, Belgium, researchers noticed that screening rates were 15% lower in poorer neighborhoods. They found that the standard reminder letters sent by the government were too long, used hard words, and had confusing pictures.

To fix this, the researchers teamed up with 33 local women to create a better letter. Together, they designed a new reminder that uses simple words, helpful pictures, and a QR code that translates the letter into 12 different languages! This clear and friendly approach helped women understand the importance of getting checked and made them much more interested in scheduling a screening.