Self-Testing Options in the Era of Primary HPV Screening for Cervical Cancer Trial

The scientific objective of the proposed research is to study whether an in-home programmatic HPV screening outreach strategy improves cervical cancer screening initiation and uptake. Identifying new, patient-centered options that motivate continued screening initiation and uptake is essential now and in the future.

In August 2018, the US Preventive Services Task Force released updated cervical cancer screening guidelines that include human papillomavirus (HPV) testing alone (ie, primary HPV screening) as a newly recommended strategy for women aged 30-65 years. With primary HPV screening, home-based screening is an emerging option, because HPV tests (unlike Pap tests) can be performed on clinician- or self-collected samples. Self-collected samples are as sensitive as clinician-collected samples in detecting HPV and mailing HPV self-sampling kits increases screening participation. As US healthcare systems prepare to implement primary HPV screening, they will need to consider a variety of strategies. To date, HPV self-sampling randomized clinical trials have included only overdue women; no study has evaluated uptake and acceptance of HPV self-sampling kits as an alternative to in-clinic screening in a screening-adherent population.

Based on our Home-based Options to Make cervical cancer screening Easy (HOME) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02005510), most women will test negative (88%) and can continue routine screening; 11% will require in-clinic follow-up: 3% directly to colposcopy (HPV-16/18+ results) and 8% to Pap because of "HPV+ other" results or an unsatisfactory result (<1%). For home-based HPV screening strategies to be successful, ensuring high follow-up compliance in the minority of women who test positive is critical.

Inclusion criteria

• Currently enrolled at Kaiser Permanente Washington
• Female sex
• 30 years to 64 years of age
• An intact cervix
• Has a primary care provider at Kaiser Permanente Washington

Exclusion criteria

• Anyone flagged by the delivery system as being on a non-routine screening schedule
• Previously randomized to the intervention arm of the HOME trial or invited to the PATH study (Participants from the PATH study and individuals randomized to the intervention arm in the HOME Study are excluded from STEP because their prior inclusion in a STEP-related research study could influence their screening uptake and affect the outcome of this trial.)
• On "do not contact list" for research studies
• Currently pregnant or had a pregnancy-related procedure within prior 3 months
• Language interpreter needed