The impact of offering multiple cervical screening options to women whose screening was overdue in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of offering multiple cervical screening options to women whose screening was overdue in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

AU - Wedisinghe, L.

AU - Sasieni, P.

AU - Currie, H.

AU - Baxter, G.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank all participants (responders as well as non-responders), collaborators and sponsors. The Research and Development Unit, NHS Dumfries and Galloway provided guidance, support and advice throughout this research. Support received from Ms Deborah Purvis, former Marketing Manager of Hologic UK Limited is highly appreciated. We appreciate support that we received from the Primary Care Division: Dr Dave Breen (Consultant in Public Health Medicine), Mrs Aileen Primrose (Screening Services Manager). We thank staff from NHS Dumfries and Galloway who assisted in conducting the study and everyone else who contributed in various other ways e.g. reviewing the website, supporting at the CST clinic etc. in making this study a success. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Most women who develop cancer have not been screened regularly. One in four women in Scotland, is overdue for cervical screening. Aim was to assess the impact of offering multiple cervical screening options to women whose screening is overdue. A prospective cohort study including all women whose screening was overdue, aged 30–60 years in Dumfries and Galloway in 2012. Potentially eligible women (n = 4146) were identified split into six groups. Women aged 30–55 years were allocated to three different groups. Group 1 (letter, n = 1246), Group 2 (letter and kit, n = 221), Group 3 (letter, n = 2031). Women aged 56–60 years were allocated to: Group 4 (letter, n = 292), Group 5 (letter and kit, n = 292) and Group 6 (control, n = 64). Women who self-collected a vaginal sample were requested to complete a questionnaire. The percentages of women responding were 24 % (21–26), 32 % (25–38), 16 % (14–18), 15 % (11–20) and 12 % (9–17) in groups 1 to 5 respectively, compared with 3 % (0–11) among controls. A significantly higher number of women (n = 383, 10 % of 3815) opted for self-sampling in comparison with undergoing a cervical screening test (CST) at the GP practice (n = 197, 5 %, x2 = 59.0, p < 0.0001). The Evalyn® Brush was well accepted (218/313 = 70 %) by those who requested self-sampling. Almost all (265/272 = 97 %) women who self-collected a vaginal sample said that if they had the option of self-sampling, they would regularly participate in future cervical screening. Offering more flexible screening options, self-sampling in particular, appears to increase cervical screening participation.

AB - Most women who develop cancer have not been screened regularly. One in four women in Scotland, is overdue for cervical screening. Aim was to assess the impact of offering multiple cervical screening options to women whose screening is overdue. A prospective cohort study including all women whose screening was overdue, aged 30–60 years in Dumfries and Galloway in 2012. Potentially eligible women (n = 4146) were identified split into six groups. Women aged 30–55 years were allocated to three different groups. Group 1 (letter, n = 1246), Group 2 (letter and kit, n = 221), Group 3 (letter, n = 2031). Women aged 56–60 years were allocated to: Group 4 (letter, n = 292), Group 5 (letter and kit, n = 292) and Group 6 (control, n = 64). Women who self-collected a vaginal sample were requested to complete a questionnaire. The percentages of women responding were 24 % (21–26), 32 % (25–38), 16 % (14–18), 15 % (11–20) and 12 % (9–17) in groups 1 to 5 respectively, compared with 3 % (0–11) among controls. A significantly higher number of women (n = 383, 10 % of 3815) opted for self-sampling in comparison with undergoing a cervical screening test (CST) at the GP practice (n = 197, 5 %, x2 = 59.0, p < 0.0001). The Evalyn® Brush was well accepted (218/313 = 70 %) by those who requested self-sampling. Almost all (265/272 = 97 %) women who self-collected a vaginal sample said that if they had the option of self-sampling, they would regularly participate in future cervical screening. Offering more flexible screening options, self-sampling in particular, appears to increase cervical screening participation.

KW - Cervical cancer screening

KW - Cervical screening uptake rate

KW - Cervical smear testing non-responder

KW - Cervix unscreened women in Dumfries and Galloway

KW - Human papillomavirus

KW - National Health Service Scotland

KW - Screening overdue

KW - Self-collection kit

KW - Vaginal self-sampling for HPV screening

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135935263&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101947

DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101947

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85135935263

SN - 2211-3355

VL - 29

JO - Preventive Medicine Reports

JF - Preventive Medicine Reports

M1 - 101947

ER -