Cost Effectiveness of Screening & Diagnostic Methods for Cervical Cancer in Women aged 30-65 Years Globally: A Systematic Review Protocol to Guide Policy Documents

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in females, with high prevalence in developing countries, and the most common cause (99%) is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The global incidence of cervical cancer is increasing every year, with an incidence of 13.3 cases per 100,000 women and a mortality rate of 7.2 deaths per 100,000 women in 2020. There are various screening and diagnostic methods; however, the availability of any strong evidence on the most cost-effective method is limited. This review systematically analyzes the available screening and diagnostic methodologies for cervical cancer, sensitivity, specificity, and cost implications. Methods and Analysis: Electronic databases like PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar will be systematically searched for relevant articles using medical subject headings (MeSH) terms. Eight reviewers (DL, SW, PP, AK, AR, MS, TK, NT) will independently assess titles and abstracts against the selection criteria during the first phase. Five reviewers will assess all full-text papers before the final decision is made. The studies will be selected based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected systematic reviews will undergo a quality assessment using the PRISMA checklist and RCTs using CONSORT and CHEERS statements to examine economic evaluations. A narrative synthesis will be formulated from the studies based on two types of outcomes- Clinical and Economical. If sufficient data is available, a meta-analysis will be performed. Conclusion: The results from this study may aid in identifying factors influencing test performance and have evidence of the cost-effectiveness of the screening and diagnostic tests for cervical cancer. This review will generate a platform for more studies that will provide answers to crucial research concerns about cervical cancer screening.