Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: The NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) currently involves a healthcare professional collecting a cervical sample in a clinical setting. There are limitations to this approach, including difficulty in accessing appointments and the discomfort or anxiety caused by speculum examinations. The introduction of HPV testing has enabled the development of self-sampling methods, including vaginal and urine collection. While the accuracy of these methods has been studied, it remains unclear which features of self-sampling influence preferences, acceptability, and screening uptake. We aim to: (1) Quantify preferences for cervical screening features among the UK population eligible for cervical screening; (2) Estimate uptake under different sampling collection scenarios; (3) Explore how preferences vary across sociodemographic groups.
METHODS: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was developed. Attributes and levels for the DCE were identified through a literature review, expert consultation, and input from a patient and public involvement group (n=6). The final survey includes 10 choice tasks per participant, asking them to choose between two hypothetical screening options, or no screening. Data collection is expected to be completed by September, with analysis finalised by October. Results will be analysed using conditional logit, mixed logit and latent class models, and uptake calculated.
RESULTS: The final survey includes the following attributes: detection rate (ranging from 80% to 95%), sample collection method (clinician-collected vs. self-collected vaginal or urine samples), screening location, level of contact with healthcare professionals, discomfort or pain, and screening frequency (yearly to every 5 years). Results will include odds ratios for each attribute and projected uptake rates for potential implementation scenarios in the UK, presented separately for different subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS: This study can help design a more acceptable and effective cervical screening programs tailored to the UK context, including consideration of how preferences differ between sociodemographic subgroups.