More than 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the UK and around 850 women die from the disease, with most deaths occurring in their 30s.
The study, published in the Journal of Medical Screening, evaluated a group of 2,300 women aged 24 to 65 who had their own samples taken while undergoing standard cervical screening at 38 GP practices across England. did.
Participants were asked about their screening preferences and attitudes toward choosing between the two methods.
Among women surveyed, 85% would prefer to be given a choice, 72% said this choice would improve their screening experience, and 69% would self-sample at home if offered the option in the future. I answered that I would choose.
However, some women expressed concerns about choosing a screening method, with 23 percent finding it difficult to choose, 15 percent feeling anxious about choice, and 48 percent wanting a recommendation.
These concerns were more frequently reported by women with fewer qualifications compared to women with degree-level education.
Researchers said there is an urgent need to evaluate how options are provided to ensure messaging is effective.
Lead author Jo Waller, Professor of Cancer Behavioral Science at Queen Mary University, said: For many people, self-sampling is a more convenient and acceptable option, but others prefer the peace of mind that a nurse or doctor has performed the test. ”
“Making critical access to screening as simple as possible”
Dr Laura Marlow, senior research fellow at Queen Mary University and lead author of the study, said: When considering how best to make self-sampling available, to ensure that having to make a choice does not become an added worry or burden, and to avoid exacerbating social inequalities in screening uptake. We need to keep this in mind. ”
Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: ‘We know that the earlier cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat, so it’s important that we make access to screening and testing as easy as possible.
“I welcome this research and the Government is working closely with the UK National Testing Board to explore the potential of self-sampling.”
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer.
The NHS has set a target to eliminate the disease by 2040, but much of this depends on uptake of the HPV vaccine among teenage girls and young women.
However, uptake of screening offered through the NHS cervical cancer screening program in the UK is at an all-time low. NHS England data from 2023 reveals that around one in three eligible women aged 25 to 64 are not up to date with their cervical cancer screening.
