Prospective Evaluation of Self-Testing to Increase Screening
Prospective Evaluation of Self-Testing to Increase Screening
Regularly attending for Pap test cervical cancer screening in a clinic is often unfeasible
 and/or unacceptable to many women. This study evaluates if mailing and testing self-sampled
 kits for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) can cost-effectively increase screening
 participation among underserved minority women in a safety-net health system.
Regularly attending for Pap test cervical cancer screening in a clinic is often unfeasible
 and/or unacceptable to many women. Using mailed self-sampling kits to test for high-risk
 human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer, may overcome multiple
 barriers to clinic-based screening. This study is a randomized controlled trial to compare
 the effectiveness of three outreach interventions to increase primary screening participation
 and clinical follow-up among underscreened women a in a safety net health system. The three
 strategies that will be evaluated are: 1) telephone recall; 2) telephone recall with mailed
 self-sample HPV testing kits; and 3) telephone recall with mailed self-sample HPV testing
 kits and patient navigation.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  no history of hysterectomy or cervical cancer

 -  no Pap test in the past 3.5 years or Pap/HPV co-test in the past 5.5 years

 -  patient of Harris Health System in Harris County (Houston), Texas

 -  have at least 2 visits to ambulatory care within Harris Health System in the past 5
 years

 -  be currently enrolled in a healthcare coverage or financial assistance plan accepted
 by Harris Health System

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  no valid telephone contact information

 -  unable to communicate in English or Spanish

 -  currently pregnant

 -  history of cervical dysplasia in the past 3.5 years