Corrigendum to "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". Papillomavirus Research 9 (2020) 100194.

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 self-sampling arm participated in screening compared to 22 (51%) out of 43 women in the control arm (p=0.009). This difference remained significant after adjusting for covariates (age category, education level, time interval since last Pap smear, past Pap smear-taker). Conclusion GPs offering self-sampling kits resulted in a high participation. Larger trials should confirm this effect and evaluate feasibility of this approach.