Women's perspectives on human papillomavirus self‐sampling in the context of the UK cervical screening programme
2017
Background: Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) is being incorporated into the cervical
screening programme, with the probable future introduction of HPV as a primary test
and a possibility of HPV self-sampling.
In anticipation of this development, we sought to
inform future policy and practice by identifying potential barriers to HPV self-sampling.
Methods: A cross-sectional
survey of 194 women aged 20-64
years was conducted.
Logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of self-sampling
intentions.
A purposive subsample of 19 women who reported low self-sampling
intentions
were interviewed. Interviews were framework-analysed.
Results: Most survey participants (N=133, 69.3%) intended to HPV self-sample.
Lower
intention was associated with lower self-efficacy
(OR=24.96, P≤.001), lower education
(OR=6.06, P≤.05) and lower perceived importance of HPV as a cause of cervical
cancer (OR=2.33, P≤.05). Interviews revealed personal and system-related
barriers.
Personal barriers included a lack of knowledge about HPV self-sampling,
women’s low
confidence in their ability to self-sample
correctly and low confidence in the subsequent
results. System-related
factors included a lack of confidence in the rationale for
modifying the current cervical screening programme, and concerns about sample
contamination
and identity theft.
Conclusions: Insights gained from this research can be used to guide further enquiry
into the possibility of HPV self-sampling
and to help inform future policy and practice.
Personal and system-related
barriers including low confidence in the reasons for
changing current cervical screening provision need to be addressed, should HPV self-sampling
be incorporated into the cervical screening programme.
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