Abstract C131: Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention

Abstract Over 13, 000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and 4, 000 women die from this preventable disease in the United States annually. Black women are 50% more likely to die compared to White women. More than half of all cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been or are infrequently screened. HPV self-collection may increase access to cervical cancer screening and reduce healthcare disparities. The National Cancer Institute-sponsored ‘Self-collection for HPV testing to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention’ (SHIP) trial seeks to expand evidence on self-collection-based screening approaches. This study explores acceptability and preferences for HPV self-collection at the University of Pennsylvania site, one of 25 SHIP trial sites in the US. The study included individuals with a cervix, 25 years, and referred for colposcopy and/or LEEP after testing positive for HPV or found to have abnormal cytology within 12 months preceding the referral visit. Exclusion criteria included current pregnancy or delivery in the past 3 months, cervical excisional procedures or ablative therapy to the cervix in the 12 months prior to the referral visit, and history of a complete or partial hysterectomy. After obtaining informed consent and verifying demographic information, an Instructions for Use (IFU) document, detailing how to complete the HPV self-collection using the Rovers Evalyn® Brush for vaginal self-collection, were provided to the study participants. Participants completed the self-collection procedure in an adjoining private bathroom and handed the self-collection device to clinic staff for further processing. Before undergoing other study procedures, participants were offered an optional questionnaire about their experiences of self-collection. Participants received a 50 debit or gift card for reimbursement of time and efforts for involvement in the study. Out of 75 consented participants, 72 (96%) completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 40 years (s. d. 12, range 25-70). The majority were Black/African American (64%), with 31% White, 1% Asian, 4% more than one race, and 7% of Hispanic ethnicity. All respondents found the self-collection process easy to perform. Two-thirds (66%) of participants reported no discomfort with self-collection (29% slight and 4% moderate discomfort). All but one participant (99%) found the IFU clear. When asked which method of sample collection they preferred, the majority (60%) indicated self-collection, about one third (34%) had no preference, and only a small fraction (6%) indicated clinician collection1. Among those that prefer self-collection, the top three factors they considered most important when choosing a sample collection method were convenience, ease of use, and accuracy. This is one of the first studies to report HPV self-collection acceptability and preferences among a predominantly Black population. Self-collection for HPV testing is a feasible, acceptable, and a highly preferred approach with the majority of participants finding the IFU to be very clear and reporting no discomfort. Citation Format: Ashley E. Santaniello, Carolina E. Viswanath, Sarah Cohen, Haideliza Soto-Calderon, Lauren Vincent, Joanna Wishnoff, Abike James, Danielle Burkland, Isabella An, Margaret G. House, Vikrant V. Sahasrabuddhe, Carmen E. Guerra. Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention abstract. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34 (9 Suppl): Abstract nr C131.