Self-sampling and HPV testing vs Pap-smear in women not attending screening
Author Information
Author(s): Wikström I, Lindell M, Sanner K, Wilander E
Primary Institution: Uppsala University
Hypothesis
Can self-sampling of vaginal fluid combined with HPV testing increase participation in cervical cancer screening compared to traditional Pap-smear methods?
Conclusion
Self-sampling of vaginal fluid followed by HPV testing is significantly more effective in detecting cervical lesions than traditional Pap-smear screening.
Supporting Evidence
- 39% of women in the self-sampling group participated in screening compared to 9% in the Pap-smear group.
- 8 out of 2000 women in the self-sampling group had CIN2–3 lesions, compared to 3 out of 4060 in the Pap-smear group.
- The odds ratio for detecting CIN2–3 lesions with self-sampling was 5.42.
Takeaway
This study shows that letting women collect their own samples at home for HPV testing helps more of them get checked for cervical cancer.
Methodology
4060 women aged 39-60 who hadn't attended Pap-smear screening for over 6 years were randomized into two groups: one offered self-sampling and HPV testing, the other only Pap-smear.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-selection of participants who chose to self-sample.
Limitations
The study population was limited by financial support, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 39-60 who had not attended organized Pap-smear screening for 6 years or more.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.30–31.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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