Acceptability to Healthcare Professionals of Home-Based HPV Self-Sampling for Cervical Screening: A French Qualitative Study Conducted in an Area with Low Access to Health Services
Résumé
Self-sampling may improve participation in cervical cancer secondary prevention programs by women who do not respond or respond irregularly when invited to contact a health professional for the collection of a cervical specimen. It could also help resolve access problems in areas with a low physician density. The present qualitative study examined barriers to screening, effective screening strategies, and the advantages and disadvantages of sending women urine or vaginal self-sampling kits in two medically underserved administrative departments in France (Mayenne and Sarthe) showing low cervical screening coverage. As part of the CapU4 randomized trial, a team of psychologists investigated the attitudes and experiences of 59 healthcare professionals (gynecologists, general practitioners, and midwives) through semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that health professionals believe that self-sampling may address the issues of low physician density and underscreening by removing logistical, organizational, financial, and psychological obstacles. They confirmed trust in the use of vaginal self-sampling, with urine self-sampling as an alternative solution (e.g., for women with vaginismus). The health professionals also identified several limitations of the self-sampling kit that will need to be addressed in future screening campaigns (incomplete kit, complex instructions, poor anatomical knowledge, and obesity).
Mots clés
cervical cancer cancer screening strategies underscreened women low physician density urine self-sampling vaginal self-sampling health professionals semi-structured interview
cervical cancer
cancer screening strategies
underscreened women
low physician density
urine self-sampling
vaginal self-sampling
health professionals
semi-structured interview
Domaines
Sciences de l'Homme et SociétéOrigine | Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte |
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