Follow-Up After Receiving Abnormal Results From Self-Sampled Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Screening Tests Among...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Cancer Screening

Background:

• At-home cancer screening tests are a public health priority.
• Optimizing diagnostic follow-up care after abnormal screening results is challenging.
• This study examined the cancer screening process for underserved patients with abnormal self-sampled test results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the understanding and follow-up care for abnormal self-sampled cancer screening results.
• To assess patient satisfaction with the self-sampling cancer screening process.

Main Methods:

• Mixed methods study involving surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Participants were patients from federally qualified health centers who received abnormal results on self-sampled colorectal or cervical cancer screening tests.
• Analysis focused on understanding of results, follow-up care, and satisfaction with the self-sampling process.

Main Results:

• Participants reported very high satisfaction with self-sampled cancer screening.
• 60% of participants preferred self-sampled tests for future screenings.
• Understanding of abnormal results varied, but satisfaction with the self-sampling process was consistently high.

Conclusions:

• Knowledge about cancer screening did not appear to be a prerequisite for accessing follow-up care after abnormal results.
• High satisfaction with self-sampling cancer screening supports its expansion.
• Findings reinforce public health efforts to increase access to self-sampling cancer screening modalities.