Advancing Cervical Cancer Screening Through Self-Sampling (ACCESS): A Pilot Study of HPV Self-sampling for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Washington State
Advancing Cervical Cancer Screening Through Self-Sampling (ACCESS): A Pilot Study of HPV Self-sampling for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Washington State
The objective of this study is to evaluate self-collection of vaginal samples for HPV testing as an alternative cervical cancer screening strategy for persons with HIV and/or limited access to care. Self-collection kits will be offered to persons who refuse a Pap smear or are overdue (>=6 months) for cervical cancer screening, with screening uptake recorded as a primary outcome. Kits will be offered in-clinic to individuals who refuse a Pap smear, and individuals overdue for screening will have the option to receive and return kits in the mail. The investigators will additionally administer a phone-based survey to evaluate knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, barriers and facilitators to screening, and attitudes towards screening. Data from medical records will be abstracted to describe the clinical characteristics of the sample and measure receipt of follow-up procedures. Focus groups will be conducted with clinic administrators, staff, and HIV and women's health experts to evaluate clinic and provider barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening. The investigators hypothesize that HPV self-sampling will result in favorable patient-centered outcomes and could reduce disparities in access to screening.
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