Effect of Educational Intervention on Self-Sampling Acceptability and Follow-Up Paps in Border Dwelling Hispanic...

The aims of the study were to evaluate the effect of a community outreach worker (promotora)-led high-intensity educational intervention compared with control without promotora-led intervention on cervical cancer screening preference (Pap smear vs self-sampling) and to determine the effect of this preference on subsequent screening completion.

This randomized controlled trial compared the effect of educational intervention on women's preferences for self-sampling for human papillomavirus. Inclusion criteria were women aged 30 to 65 years and no cervical cancer screening in 3 years or more. Community-based study with intervention group receiving culturally tailored education by promotora vs control group who received written education pamphlet. We evaluated participants' test preference, knowledge, and Pap completion at 12-months postintervention.

Two hundred one predominantly Hispanic women were randomly assigned to high-intensity (n = 100) education vs low-intensity education (n = 101). The mean age was 46.4 years (SD = 8.2 years). There was no difference in test preference between high- and low-intensity groups (49% vs 41%, both tests equally; 28.6% vs 35.1%, self-sampling; and 22% vs 23%, Pap, p = .536). High-intensity intervention resulted in a significantly higher self-sampling acceptability score (25.02 vs 24.06, p = .039).Testing preference did not significantly affect Pap completion (Pap vs self-sampling vs unsure/both equally, 60.0% vs 43.6% vs 48.9%, p = 0.24). Human papillomavirus knowledge was found to be significantly associated with completion of Pap at 12 months. Human papillomavirus-positive result on self-sampling trended toward increased likelihood of screening completion (16.3% vs 7.8%, p = .058).

We found a high level of acceptability of self-sampling regardless of intensity of education in a largely Hispanic female population living on the US-Mexico border and a trend toward increased Pap smear follow-up in participants who tested positive.