Self-sampled HPV testing for cervical screening non-attenders v 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing on self-collected samples to increase uptake of cervical screening in non-attenders: A pilot study within a primary care setting
IRAS ID
71406
Contact name
Peter Sasieni
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Research summary
Maintaining high screening coverage (the proportion of eligible women who are screened regularly) is crucial for the success of any cervical screening programme. Most of the barriers to cervical screening are related to either the pelvic examination needed for smear taking (e.g. embarrassment, fear of pain) or practical issues (eg. making appointments). Women who are not adequately screened are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer, and there is a need to find ways to increase screening uptake in these women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary cause of cervical cancer and testing for high-risk HPV types can be used as a form of cervical screening. HPV testing has comparable test performance characteristics to cytology (smears) and samples for testing can be self-collected by women using a vaginal swab. Self-collected samples have the potential to overcome barriers to cervical screening and studies have shown that it can increase screening uptake in non-attenders. However, it is unclear what the best approach is (e.g. sending out self-sampling kits in the post, asking women to order kits), and response rates have been highly variable between studies.
One approach that has not been studied is offering non-attenders self-sampling when they present to their GP surgery for any other reason. Women would self-collect a sample in the GP toilets or at home. Primary care is a complex setting because of the time pressures (the average consultation is ~12 minutes) and the large variation in operational procedures, and because patients may feel too unwell to consider screening. We, therefore, plan to carry out a pilot to determine the feasibility and acceptability of offering self-sampling to non-attenders in primary care. The pilot will serve to address practical and logistical issues and will help streamline the design for a larger randomised trial.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1441
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion