AI Insight
An Australian online survey of 9,928 screen-eligible individuals found that although 70.2% had heard of cervical screening self-collection since its universal rollout in July 2022, only 36.1% of those who had been screened since that date were actually offered a choice between self-collection and clinician-collection. Among those offered a choice, approximately half (49.7%) opted for self-collection, with irregular or never-screeners being twice as likely to choose self-collection compared to regular screeners. Awareness and access to choice were higher among older participants and those attending specialized women's or sexual health clinics, highlighting uneven implementation across healthcare settings.
Why it matters
The finding that under-screened groups are more likely to choose self-collection when offered it suggests that inconsistent provider uptake of the choice model is a key barrier to improving cervical screening equity in Australia and potentially in other high-income countries adopting similar programs. Healthcare systems introducing self-collection options need to invest in provider training and targeted community outreach before program launch, particularly to reach populations least engaged with routine screening.
Understand the Science
⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
Background Since July 2022, Australian National Cervical Screening Guidelines have recommended anyone eligible for cervical screening be offered the choice between having their sample collected by a clinician with a speculum, or self-collection using a vaginal swab. Method We recruited screen-eligible people to an online survey between December 2023 and April 2024, via a paid social media (Meta) campaign, and stakeholder and community networks. Using binary logistic regression, we assessed demographic and screening history factors associated with having previously heard of self-collection. In participants screened since July-2022, we assessed factors associated with being offered a choice between self-collection and clinician-collection; choosing self-collection (among those offered choice); and using self-collection (among all recently screened participants). Results Of the 9,928 participants, 70.2% had heard of self-collection. Among those screened since July 2022, 36.1% were offered a choice in screening method. Awareness was associated with increasing age (p-trend <0.001), with participants aged >65 years most likely to have heard of self-collection (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.69, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.31-2.18). Compared to participants who self-reported regularly attending cervical screening, both not-regular and never screeners (based on self-reported screening history, frequency, age and sexual history) were less likely to have heard of self-collection (aOR:0.80 [95%CI:0.72-0.89] and aOR:0.73 [95%CI:0.56-0.96], respectively; p<0.001). Participants who attended a specialised womens/sexual health clinic were more likely to have heard of self-collection (aOR:1.32 (95%CI:1.06-1.64), p;<0.001), and to report being offered choice (aOR:1.62 (95%CI 1.22-2.14), p<0.001) at their last cervical screen. Half of the participants who were offered a choice opted for self-collection (N=803/1,617; 49.7%). Not-regular screeners were twice as likely (aOR:2.31 (95%CI:1.74-3.07), p<0.001) to choose self-collection as regular-screeners. Conclusion Given almost 50% of women nationally are now choosing self-collection, these findings imply national uptake might be close to plateauing overall. In high income settings where a choice in screening methods is introduced with the aim of improving screening equity, resources, adequate training, and health promotion tools should be provided prior to program launch to support healthcare providers in offering choice and facilitate improved participation in screening programs. Raising community awareness of screening options is important and needs to reach under-screened groups.