MedPath

HPV Self-sampling for Women Who do Not Attend Cervical Cancer Screening Programme

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Early Detection of Cancer
Papillomavirus Infections
Self-Examination
Cervix Cancer
Interventions
Device: Mailed self-sampling kit to collect a vaginal sample after opt-in prodecure
Diagnostic Test: Standard of care - screening in a clinical setting
Device: Directly mailed self-sampling kit to collect a vaginal sample
Registration Number
NCT06371118
Lead Sponsor
Universidade do Porto
Brief Summary

This study aims to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two different strategies of home-delivered HPV self-sampling, in comparison to the standard of care strategy, to increase adherence to cervical cancer screening.

An experimental and population-based study will be implemented at three primary healthcare centers located in the Western Porto region: Cedofeita, Garcia de Orta, and Prelada. Eligible women will be randomized into a control group or an intervention group. The control group will correspond to the standard of care (invitation to screening in a clinical setting). The intervention group will be randomized into two subgroups: 1) a "directly mailed" group that will receive a self-sampling kit at their home addresses by post; 2) an "opt-in" group that will receive an invitation at home asking if they want to receive a self-sampling kit, with a pre-paid envelope to return the answer to this question. Women who answer "yes" will receive the self-sampling kit at their home addresses by post.

Self-sampling samples will be subjected to HPV genotyping. In parallel, high-risk HPV positive women will be called in by their family doctors to undergo screening in a clinical setting so that they can continue their clinical follow-up in the conventional pathway.

Detailed Description

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two different strategies of home-delivered HPV self-sampling to increase the adherence to cervical cancer screening in women who are overdue for cervical cancer screening, in comparison to the standard of care strategy.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* To test the effectiveness of an invitation strategy to improve the adherence to cervical cancer screening based on directly home-delivered HPV self-sampling tests + automated reminders, in comparison to the standard of care invitation.

* To test the effectiveness of an invitation strategy to improve the adherence to cervical cancer screening based on home-delivered HPV self-sampling tests using opt-in procedures for ordering the kit + automated reminders, in comparison to the standard of care invitation.

* To compare the cost-effectiveness between a) standard of care; b) directly home-delivered HPV self-sampling tests + automated reminders; and c) home-delivered HPV self-sampling tests using opt-in procedures for ordering the kit + automated reminders.

Eligible women will be randomized (1:1) into a control group and an intervention group:

* Control group: corresponds to the standard of care, which is an invitation to cervical cancer screening in a clinical setting, through a written letter, printed and sent by the primary healthcare unit where the women are registered.

* Intervention group: Women allocated to this group will be randomized (1:1) into two subgroups, described briefly as follows:

* Intervention 1 (half of the intervention group): HPV self-sampling test mailed directly to the women's home address (directly mailed group), complemented with a SMS reminder. If a woman returns the sample, HPV-type genotyping will be performed. If High-Risk HPV (HR-HPV) is detected, women will be informed of the result and invited to take cervical cancer screening in a clinical setting by their family doctors. Subsequent follow-up will take place according to Portuguese guidelines.

* Intervention 2 (half of the intervention group): An invitation is mailed to the women´s home address, offering a self-sampling kit, to be ordered by returning a prepaid envelope with the answer "yes" (opt-in group). In the event of a positive response, an HPV self-sampling test is mailed to the women's home, complemented with a SMS reminder. If a woman returns the sample, HPV genotyping will be performed. If HR-HPV is detected, women will be informed of the result and invited to take cervical cancer screening in a clinical setting, performed by their family doctors. Subsequent follow-up will take place according to Portuguese guidelines.

In Interventions 1 and 2, when HR-HPV is detected in the self-sampling test, this sample will be subjected to HPV-DNA methylation testing. If increased HPV DNA methylation is detected and the woman has yet not attended the conventional screening invitation by her family doctor, she will be informed by her family doctor that a new test has indicated an increased risk for cervical cancer and the need to attend a medical appointment will be reinforced.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
1000
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women aged between 26 and 60 years old;
  • Women eligible for cervical cancer screening whose screening is at least 1 year overdue.
Exclusion Criteria
  • No mobile phone number available at the National Health Service database;
  • Foreign mobile phone number;
  • No address available at the National Health Service database;
  • Foreign address.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention 2 (opt-in group)Mailed self-sampling kit to collect a vaginal sample after opt-in prodecureThe HPV self-sampling test will be sent by post directly to the woman's address after a opt-in procedure.
Control groupStandard of care - screening in a clinical settingAn invitation to attend a cervical cancer screening in a clinical setting will be sent by post to the woman's address.
Intervention 1 (directly mailed group)Directly mailed self-sampling kit to collect a vaginal sampleThe HPV self-sampling test will be sent by post directly to the woman's address.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adherence to HPV self-sampling in intervention 2 (opt-in) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

Number of women who returned the self-sample in intervention 2 group divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group

Adherence to conventional screening in control group45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date

Number of women in control group who adhered to conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group

Adherence to HPV self-sampling in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

Number of women who returned the self-sample in intervention 1 group divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group

Adherence proportion to HPV self-sampling in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group VS Adherence proportion to conventional screening in control group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent or 45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date, as appropriate

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 1 group who returned the self-sample divided by the women assigned to intervention 1 group) dividided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group).

Adherence proportion to HPV self-sampling in intervention 2 (opt-in) group VS Adherence proportion to conventional screening in control group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent or 45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date, as appropriate

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 2 group who returned the self-sample divided by the women assigned to intervention 2 group) dividided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adherence to colposcopy in control group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group

Adherence to colposcopy in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group

Timelapse (in days) between the shipment of self-sampling kit and the return of the sample, in intervention 1 (directly mailed) groupFollow-up will end at 90 days

Adherence will be assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Adherence to colposcopy in intervention 2 (opt-in) group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group

Timelapse (in days) between the shipment of self-sampling kit and the return of the sample, in intervention 2 (opt-in) groupFollow-up will end at 90 days

Adherence will be assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group VS Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in control group45 and 90 days after the first follow-up step (clinician-sampling appointment date or colposcopy appointment date, as appropriate)

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group)

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in intervention 2 (opt-in) group among women who returned the self-sample45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who tested positive for HR-HPV in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who returned the self-sample

Adherence to first follow-up step in intervention 2 (opt-in) group45 and 90 days after the clinician-sampling appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group

Adherence to colposcopy in control group among women referred for colposcopy45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for colposcopy after an abnormal result in conventional screening

Adherence to colposcopy in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women referred for colposcopy45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who were referred for colposcopy after abnormal results in both self-sampling and clinician-sampling

Adherence to colposcopy in intervention 2 (opn-in) group among women referred for colposcopy45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who were referred for colposcopy after abnormal results in both self-sampling and clinician-sampling

Timelapse (in days) between the invitation to receive a self-sampling kit and the return of the opt-in answer, in intervention 2 (opt-in) groupFollow-up will end at 90 days

Adherence will be assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Adherence to first follow-up step in control group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group

Adherence to first follow-up step in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group45 and 90 days after the clinician-sampling appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group

Adherence to first follow-up step in control group among women referred for follow-up45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for follow-up (colposcopy) after an abnormal result in conventional screening

Adherence to first follow-up step in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women referred for folow-up45 and 90 days after the clinician-sampling appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who were referred for follow-up (clinician-sampling) after an abnormal result in self-sampling

Adherence to first follow-up step in intervention 2 (opt-in) group among women referred for folow-up45 and 90 days after the clinician-sampling appointment date

Quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who were referred for follow-up (clinician-sampling) after an abnormal result in self-sampling

Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in intervention 2 (opt-in) group among women referred for follow-up VS Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in control group among women referred for follow-up45 and 90 days after the first follow-up step (clinician-sampling appointment date or colposcopy appointment date, as appropriate)

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who were referred for follow-up (clinician-sampling) after an abnormal result in self-sampling) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for follow-up (colposcopy) after an abnormal result in conventional screening)

Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in intervention 2 (opt-in) group VS Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in control group45 and 90 days after the first follow-up step (clinician-sampling appointment date or colposcopy appointment date, as appropriate)

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group)

Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women referred for follow-up VS Adherence proportion to first follow-up step in control group among women referred for follow-up45 and 90 days after the first follow-up step (clinician-sampling appointment date or colposcopy appointment date, as appropriate)

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, clinician-sampling) divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who were referred for follow-up (clinician-sampling) after an abnormal result in self-sampling) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to first follow-up step (in this case, colposcopy) divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for follow-up (colposcopy) after an abnormal result in conventional screening)

Adherence proportion to colposcopy in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group VS Adherence proportion to colposcopy in control group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group)

Adherence proportion to colposcopy in intervention 2 (opt-in) group among women referred for colposcopy VS Adherence proportion to colposcopy in control group among women referred for colposcopy45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who were referred for colposcopy after an abnormal result in both self-sampling and clinician-sampling) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for colposcopy after an abnormal result in conventional screening)

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who tested positive for HR-HPV in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in control group among women who adhered to conventional screening45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date

The quotient of the number of women in control group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group who adhered to conventional screening

Positive likelihood ratio of HR-HPV testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Specificity of HR-HPV non 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL

Adherence proportion to colposcopy in intervention 2 (opt-in) group VS Adherence proportion to colposcopy in control group45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 2 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group)

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in control group45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date

The quotient of the number of women in control group who tested positive for HR-HPV in conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in intervention 2 (opt-in) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who tested positive for HR-HPV in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in control group among women who adhered to conventional screening45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date

The quotient of the number of women in control group who tested positive for HR-HPV in conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group who adhered to conventional screening

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women who returned the self-sample45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who returned the self-sample

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in intervention 2 (opt-in) group among women who returned the self-sample45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group who returned the self-sample

Positive predictive value of self-sampling for the detection of HR-HPV, using clinician-sampling results as gold standard90 days after clinicial-sampling appointment date

The quotient of the number of cases in which both self-sampling and clinician-sampling tested positive for HR-HPV divided by the number of cases in which self-sampling tested positive for HR-HPV, regardless of the clinician-sampling HR-HPV test result)

Accuracy of HR-HPV non 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (The sum of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL with the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL) divided by the total number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, regardless of the methylation and biopsy results.

Adherence proportion to colposcopy in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women referred for colposcopy VS Adherence proportion to colposcopy in control group among women referred for colposcopy45 and 90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of women in intervention 1 group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who were referred for colposcopy after an abnormal result in both self-sampling and clinician-sampling) divided by (Number of women in control group who adhered to colposcopy divided by the number of women assigned to control group who were referred for colposcopy after an abnormal result in conventional screening)

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in control group45 and 90 days after the conventional screening appointment date

The quotient of the number of women in control group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in conventional screening divided by the number of women assigned to control group

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group

Proportion of HR-HPV 16/18 positivity in intervention 2 (opt-in) group45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 2 group who tested positive for HR-HPV 16/18 in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 2 group

Sensitivity of HR-HPV testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL

Negative likelihood ratio of HR-HPV non 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Negative likelihood ratio of HR-HPV 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Proportion of HR-HPV positivity in intervention 1 (directly mailed) group among women who returned the self-sample45 and 90 days after the day the self-sampling kit is sent

The quotient of the number of women in intervention 1 group who tested positive for HR-HPV in self-sampling divided by the number of women assigned to intervention 1 group who returned the self-sample

Negative likelihood ratio of HR-HPV testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, normal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Accuracy of HR-HPV testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (The sum of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL with the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL) divided by the total number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, regardless of the methylation and biopsy results.

Sensitivity of HR-HPV non 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL

Specificity of HR-HPV 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL

Positive likelihood ratio of HR-HPV 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Specificity of HR-HPV testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL

Positive likelihood ratio of HR-HPV non 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (Number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL) divided by (The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV non 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≤LSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≤LSIL)

Sensitivity of HR-HPV 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL divided by the total number of self-samples with ≥HSIL

Accuracy of HR-HPV 16/18 testing and methylation analysis in self-samples, using biopsy results as gold standard90 days after the colposcopy appointment date

The quotient of (The sum of the number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, abnormal methylation result and ≥HSIL with the number of self-samples with HR-HPV positive result, normal methylation result and ≤LSIL) divided by the total number of self-samples with HR-HPV 16/18 positive result, regardless of the methylation and biopsy results.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Prelada

🇵🇹

Porto, Portugal

Unidade de Saúde Familiar Cedofeita

🇵🇹

Porto, Portugal

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath