Self-sampling for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Cervical cancer is a major global health concern, primarily caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types.
• Early detection through screening is crucial for preventing cancer development from pre-cancerous lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the medical literature on self-sampling protocols for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening.
• To assess patient acceptance, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy of HPV self-sampling compared to standard methods.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, VHL, Scopus, etc.) using keywords: "self-sampling," "professional sampling," and "HPV."
• Included studies were analyzed for patient acceptance, cost, and accuracy of self-sampling against the gold standard.
• The review encompassed 33 studies, including 10 randomized clinical trials (46,751 patients) and 23 observational studies (142,795 patients).

Main Results:

• The majority of studies reported a significant patient preference for self-sampling methods.
• Sensitivity analyses indicated that the lower cost of self-sampling kits generally enhances cost-effectiveness.
• HPV testing on self-collected samples demonstrated comparable accuracy to traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• HPV testing using self-collected samples is a practical and effective strategy for cervical cancer screening.
• Self-sampling increases screening coverage and is a preferred method for many women.
• This approach offers a cost-effective solution for monitoring HPV infections and preventing cervical cancer.