LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Researchers at King's College, London, found that do-it-yourself human papillomavirus tests could encourage women in England to participate in cervical screening in the next three years.
The trial, named YouScreen, was conducted in partnership with NHS Cancer Alliances in North Central and North East London, NHS England and the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
During the trial, the self-testing kits were provided to over 27,000 women, and people with a cervix, aged 25-64 who were six months overdue to screening. Out of this, 8,838 people sent back self-samples.
Lead investigator Dr Anita Lim, said, 'Women who don't come for regular screening are at the highest risk of developing cervical cancer. Cervical screening participation has been falling in England for over two decades; currently almost a third of eligible women aren't getting screened regularly and in some parts of London this is as high as 50 percent'.
The DIY kit consisted of a long cotton wool bud to be used as a vaginal swab. It was later sent to a laboratory to test for human papillomavirus which causes most cervical cancers. If the test comes out as positive, the participant was invited to conduct a follow-up test.
Dr Lim added, 'The YouScreen trial has given us the evidence we need to demonstrate that self-sampling helps get more women screened in England. It's really encouraging that we received self-samples from groups that have been historically underserved including people from deprived and ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQI+, people with learning disabilities and victims of sexual violence'.
Many women are embarrassed or worried about cervical screening as it is an intimate procedure. However, self-testing kits would encourage them to take the tests as per their convenience.
NHS director of screening and vaccination, Deborah Tomalin, commented, 'It's extremely promising that this study suggests simple DIY swab tests could have a really positive impact in supporting more women to take part in cervical screening from their own homes, and the NHS will now be working with the UK National Screening Committee to consider the feasibility of rolling this out more widely across England'.
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