A Randomized Trial of Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling as an Intervention to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening among Women with HIV
OBJECTIVE:
Women
living with HIV experience higher risk of cervical cancer, but screening rates
in the United States are lower than recommended. The purpose of this study was
to examine whether an intervention using self-sampling of cervicovaginal cells
for human papillomavirus (HPV) with results counseling would increase cervical
cytology ("Pap") testing among women with HIV.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This
was a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an intervention
of self-sampling for HPV and results counseling. Participants were 94 women
older than 18 years, with HIV infection, attending an HIV clinic for a primary
care visit, whose last cervical cancer screening was 18 months or more before
baseline. Women were assigned to the intervention or information-only group.
The primary outcome was completion of cervical cytology testing within 6 months
of baseline. The secondary outcome was the women's perceived threat of
developing cervical cancer.
RESULTS:
A total
of 94 women were enrolled and analyzed in the study. The cytology completion
rate overall was 35% by 6 months from baseline. There were no differences in
comparing HPV-positive with HPV-negative women nor comparing them with the
information-only group. In the intervention group, a positive HPV test
increased perceived threat of cervical cancer.
CONCLUSIONS:
The
intervention did not improve cytology test attendance, although education about
HPV and cervical cancer risk as part of study procedures was associated with
testing for 35% of this group of women whose previous cytology occurred an
average of 3.6 years before the baseline appointment. Self-sampling for HPV
testing was feasible.
- 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and
- 2Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
- J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2016 Apr;20(2):139-44. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000195.
No comments:
Post a Comment