Perceptions and Acceptability of Self-Testing for Human Papillomavirus Among Women Presenting for Cervical Cancer Screening [27

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Current literature supports the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary triage for Pap screening or referral for colposcopy for women age 25–65 years. Self-collected HPV specimens have shown high concordance with clinician-collected specimens. The purpose of this substudy was to investigate the acceptability of HPV self-collection among women presenting for cervical cancer screening. METHODS: Women age 25–65 years coming for cervical cancer screening to Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara from March–April 2014 were recruited to participate. Those meeting inclusion criteria and with signed informed consent self-collected HPV vaginal swab samples and completed a brief questionnaire regarding their personal experience and perceptions of HPV self-collection. Means or medians and percentages or proportions were used to describe the population and stratify the responses according to age, race, body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight (kg)/[height (m)]2), and household income. RESULTS: The majority of the 303 women completing the questionnaire were non-Hispanic white (36%), Asian (34%), or Hispanic (20%). Mean age was 42 years, and mean BMI 27. Most women (90%) reported no pain or discomfort and felt safe (85%) and comfortable (78%) performing self-collection at home as a first step in cervical cancer screening. For 87% of the women, HPV self-collection was the preferred method. CONCLUSION: As a primary tool for cervical cancer screening, HPV self-collection appears to be highly accepted and the preferred method for HPV collection among Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara patients age 25–65 years requiring cervical cancer screening. Further studies are needed to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and reliability of self-collected HPV specimens in a more demographically diverse population and in the home setting.