Efficacy of strategies to increase participation in cervical cancer screening: GPs offering self-sampling kits for HPV testing versus recommendations to have a pap smear taken - A randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cervical cancer is preventable by early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. The current screening policy in Belgium (3-yearly cytology on Pap smears) covers 60% of the target population. Offering self-samples by GPs can overcome barriers for women who are currently not screened.

Methods

Women aged 25–64 who did not have a Pap smear since three years and consulted a GP practice in a Flemish municipality between November 2014 and April 2015 were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention arm where women were given a vaginal self-sampling kit or control arm where women were encouraged to make an appointment for having a Pap smear taken by a clinician.

Results

Eighty-eight consenting women were randomised. 35 (78%) out of 45 women in the

SUBMITTER: Peeters E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7090330 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature