TY - JOUR
T1 - Acceptability and Usability of Self-Collected Sampling for HPV Testing Among African-American Women Living in the Mississippi Delta
AU - Scarinci, Isabel C.
AU - Litton, Allison G.
AU - Garcés-Palacio, Isabel C.
AU - Partridge, Edward E.
AU - Castle, Philip E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute ( U01 CA86128 ).
Funding Information:
This study was developed in collaboration with the Deep South Network for Cancer Control (DSNCC), a research program funded by the National Cancer Institute. The DSNCC has been in existence for more than 10 years and has systematically and progressively addressed the major cancer health concerns in 10 counties in the Alabama Black Belt, and nine counties in the Mississippi Delta. DSNCC utilizes a Community Health Advisor (CHA) model in its work to reduce cancer health disparity through breast and cervical cancer awareness and screening ( Lisovicz et al., 2006 ; Lisovicz, Wynn, Fouad, & Partridge, 2008 ; Partridge & Fouad, 2010 ; Scarinci, Johnson, Hardy, Marron, & Partridge, 2009 ).
Funding Information:
Dr. Castle was also previously supported in part by the intramural research program of the NIH/NCI and by the NCI's Center for Reducing Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD). The authors acknowledge the support of Dr. Harold Freeman and Ms. Jane Daye, formerly of the National Cancer Institute, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, for their long-time support of the cervical cancer research in the Mississippi Delta.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing has been shown to be an effective approach to cervical cancer screening, and self-collection sampling for HPV testing could be a potential alternative to Pap test, provided that women who tested positive by any method get timely follow-up and care. This feasibility study examined acceptability and usability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African-American (AA) women in the Mississippi Delta to inform the development of interventions to promote cervical cancer screening in this population. Methods: The study consisted of two phases. Phase I consisted of eight focus groups (n = 87) with AA women to explore knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer and HPV infection as well as acceptability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing. In phase II, we examined the usability of this technology through one discussion group (n = 9). The Health Belief Model guided data collection and analysis. Results: Although participants perceived themselves as susceptible to cervical cancer and acknowledged its severity, there was a lack of knowledge of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and they expressed a number of misconceptions. The most frequent barriers to screening included embarrassment, discomfort, and fear of the results. Women in both phases were receptive to self-collected sampling for HPV testing. All participants in the usability phase expressed that self-collection was easy and they did not experience any difficulties. Conclusion: Self-collection for HPV testing is an acceptable and feasible method among AA women in the Mississippi Delta to complement current cytology cervical cancer screening programs.
AB - Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing has been shown to be an effective approach to cervical cancer screening, and self-collection sampling for HPV testing could be a potential alternative to Pap test, provided that women who tested positive by any method get timely follow-up and care. This feasibility study examined acceptability and usability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African-American (AA) women in the Mississippi Delta to inform the development of interventions to promote cervical cancer screening in this population. Methods: The study consisted of two phases. Phase I consisted of eight focus groups (n = 87) with AA women to explore knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer and HPV infection as well as acceptability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing. In phase II, we examined the usability of this technology through one discussion group (n = 9). The Health Belief Model guided data collection and analysis. Results: Although participants perceived themselves as susceptible to cervical cancer and acknowledged its severity, there was a lack of knowledge of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and they expressed a number of misconceptions. The most frequent barriers to screening included embarrassment, discomfort, and fear of the results. Women in both phases were receptive to self-collected sampling for HPV testing. All participants in the usability phase expressed that self-collection was easy and they did not experience any difficulties. Conclusion: Self-collection for HPV testing is an acceptable and feasible method among AA women in the Mississippi Delta to complement current cytology cervical cancer screening programs.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.whi.2012.12.003
DO - 10.1016/j.whi.2012.12.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 23410619
AN - SCOPUS:84875407972
SN - 1049-3867
VL - 23
SP - e123-e130
JO - Women's Health Issues
JF - Women's Health Issues
IS - 2
ER -
