Efficacy of Offering a Self-sampling Device by the GP to Reach Underscreened Women

Efficacy of Offering a Self-sampling Device by the General Practitioner to Reach Women Underscreened in the Routine Cervical Cancer Screening Program Compared to Sending Reminder Letters by the Screening Organization

The ESSAG trial invests the impact of offering a free self-sampling device (SSD) on the cervical cancer screening rate of underscreened women. This study is aimed at women between the age of 31 and 64 who did not have a smear taken during the last 6 years. In order to assess the effect of a) providing the SSD, and b) the intervention of the general practitioner (GP) (either face-to-face, either by sending the SSD by letter), a cluster randomized control trial is set up with three arms. The ESSAG trial evolves from a collaboration between Universiteit Gent and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universiteit Antwerpen, Sciensano, het Centrum voor Kankeropsporing en het Belgisch Kankerregister, and is funded by "Kom Op Tegen Kanker".

Inclusion Criteria:

• women between 31-64 years old
• living in Flanders
• eligible for the Flemish actions with regard to population screening
• without a smear registered in the Belgian Cancer Registry in the last 6 years
• registered as GMD patient in one of the participating GP practices

Exclusion Criteria:

• hysterectomy
• pregnancy
• (past) diagnosis of cervical cancer