Randomized Intervention of Self-Collected Sampling for Human Papillomavirus Testing in Under-Screened Rural Women: Uptake of Screening and Acceptability

• Published in: Journal of women's health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002) Vol. 25; no. 5; p. 489
• Main Authors: Racey, C Sarai, Gesink, Dionne C, Burchell, Ann N, Trivers, Suzanne, Wong, Tom, Rebbapragada, Anu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-05-2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Canada; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Mass Screening - methods; Middle Aged; Ontario; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Papanicolaou Test - methods; Papillomaviridae - isolation & purification; Papillomavirus Infections - diagnosis; Rural Population; Self Care - methods; Specimen Handling; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Vaginal Smears - methods
• ISSN: 1931-843X
• DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2015.5348

Our aim was to determine if cervical cancer screening uptake would increase among under-screened women living in rural Ontario, Canada, if at-home self-collected sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing was offered as a primary cervical cancer screening modality, compared to invited papanicolaou (Pap) testing or routine opportunistic screening.
Women 30-70 years of age who were overdue for cervical cancer screening were randomized to receive (1) an at-home self-collected HPV kit, (2) a reminder invitation for Pap testing, or (3) standard of care opportunistic screening. The first two arms were also asked demographic and screening history questions. Women randomized to arm 1 were asked about acceptability.
In total, 818 eligible women were identified in a small rural community in Southwestern Ontario: 335 received a self-collected HPV testing kit, 331 received a reminder letter, and 152 received standard of care. In the HPV self-collection arm, 21% (70/335) returned the sample and questionnaire and 11% (37/335) opted to undergo Pap testing. In total, 32% from the HPV self-collection arm, 15% (51/331) from the Pap invitation arm, and 8.5% (13/152) with standard of care were screened. Women receiving the self-collected HPV kit were 3.7 (95% confidence interval 2.2-6.4) times more likely to undergo screening compared to the standard of care arm. In the HPV self-sampling arm, 80% (56/70) said they would be very likely to choose self-collected sampling in the future.
Providing self-collected sampling for HPV testing was more effective than sending reminder letters to increase screening coverage in under-screened women.