Opting off the New South Wales Pap Test Register in a sexual health setting

Can Human Papillomavirus DNA Self-sampling be an Acceptable and Reliable Option for Cervical Cancer Screening in Female Sex Workers?

BACKGROUND

The causal relation between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer has enabled HPV self-sampling to be envisaged as a possible screening method.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to explore the acceptability and reliability of HPV DNA self-sampling as an alternative option for cervical screening among female sex workers.

METHODS

Sixty-eight participants carried out self-sampling for HPV testing, gave a clinician-obtained sample for HPV testing, and a Papanicolaou test. After the samplings, the participants were questioned on the acceptability of the tests.

RESULTS

Most participants (65.6%) preferred to adopt HPV DNA self-sampling in the future; in particular, those without previous experience of Papanicolaou tests marginally significantly preferred self-sampling (86.7%, P = .055). The overall crude agreement in HPV detection rates between clinician and HPV DNA self-sampling was 85.3% (58/68), with a κ of 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.87). The sensitivity and specificity of self-collected samples were 66.7% and 66.1%, respectively, and the positive and negative predicted values were 24.0% and 92.5%, respectively. The prevalence of HPV was slightly higher in self-collected samples (39.7%, 27/68) than in clinician-collected samples (36.8%, 25/68). The participants expressed positive attitudes toward self-sampling but were less confident in their skills of self-sampling compared with clinicians (70.6% versus 91.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings showed that self-sampling could be incorporated into current cervical cancer screening approaches.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Self-sampling could potentially increase compliance to cervical cancer screening and thus reduce the morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Further research and education on self-sampling will be required for women of diverse backgrounds.

Silent killer of the night: a feasibility study of an outreach well-women clinic for cervical cancer screening in female sex workers in Hong Kong

The purpose of this study was to see if an outreach model could be a feasible option for early detections of preinvasive cervical cancer in women with double identities of female sex workers (FSW) and illegal migrant workers in Hong Kong who most needed cervical screening but were often deprived of such a service. High turnover rates, acceptability, and compliance for follow-ups could potentially render such a clinical model unsuccessful. A total of 245 FSW were screened at the outreach clinic from January 2004 to December 2005, which was set up in a nongovernmental organization in a red light district. A questionnaire regarding their lifestyles and demographic details was used before a gynecological history, Papanicolaou (PAP) smear, and other health checkup were conducted. Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyze the results. Of 235 women tests, 9.8% of them had CIN I-III, and places of origin were found to be important risk factors for abnormal PAP smears. The nonlocal workers were significantly more likely to have abnormal PAP smears (chi(2)= 10.55, P= 0.04). Among the women, 88.1% of them who had the tests returned for follow-up with poorer compliance among those with an abnormal result. We conclude that an outreach well-women clinic seems to be an acceptable option for these women and an effective way for the early detection of cervical cancer.