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Cancer research

DIY Cervical Cancer Tests More Effective When Offered During Routine GP Appointments

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Women are more likely to take up the offer of a DIY cervical cancer test if they are offered it by a GP during a routine appointment, a study suggests. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and King's College London found that women who were "opportunistically" approached about performing the test themselves at home had a higher uptake rate compared to those who were sent a test in the post or received a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit.

Key Takeaways:

  • Under-screened women were more likely to take up the offer of a self-sample test if they were approached opportunistically by a GP during a routine appointment.
  • 333 (74%) of the 449 women offered a self-sample kit opportunistically accepted the offer and 234 (52%) returned a sample within six months.
  • Women who were sent a self-sample kit in the post had a lower uptake rate, with 198 (12%) of 1,616 women returning a sample within six months.
  • Women who were sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit also had a lower uptake rate, with 76 (5%) of 1,587 women returning a self-sample within six months.
  • Professor Peter Sasieni suggested that a combination of approaches, such as text or phone reminders, may be more effective in enabling more women to participate in cervical screening.
  • Senior researcher, Professor Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary University of London, stated that offering a self-sample kit in person was the most effective method of encouraging women to complete their cervical cancer screening tests.

Statistics:

  • 333 (74%) of the 449 women offered a self-sample kit opportunistically accepted the offer.
  • 234 (52%) of the 449 women offered a self-sample kit opportunistically returned a sample within six months.
  • 198 (12%) of the 1,616 women sent a kit in the post returned a self-sample within six months.
  • 76 (5%) of the 1,587 women sent a letter inviting them to get a self-sampling kit returned a self-sample within six months.

Sources:

  • Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk)
  • eClinicalMedicine
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • King's College London

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